Rising Popularity and Steady Infrastructure... The Current State of Women's Soccer [The Golden Age of Women's Sports?]

'Gol Ttaerineun Geunyeodeul' Popularity Spurs Era of Women Playing Active Soccer
About 7,000 Female Futsal Players in Korea... Rapid Rise as Recreational Sport
Player Development and Support Systems Still Poor, WK League Interest Fading
Jisoyeon "English WSL Also Had No Broadcasts at First... External Systems Must Be Established"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Soccer is no longer an exclusive domain of men. Women are actively dominating the field as well. They clash bodies to protect the ball and strike it powerfully to shake the net. With the popularity of the entertainment program 'Goal-Getting Girls,' the era of 'running soccer' has arrived. Moving away from static exercises like yoga and Pilates, they seek new achievements through active movement. Futsal courts are bustling, and waiting lists for clubs are forming due to the soaring popularity. Related products are also selling like hotcakes. According to Gmarket, sales of women's soccer gear from May 14 for one month increased by 42% compared to the same period last year. Futsal shoes sales nearly tripled (293%), while soccer vests and shin guards rose by 170% and 125%, respectively.

According to the Korea Football Association, the registered female futsal population in Korea is about sixty teams with over 700 players. Including unregistered players, it is estimated to exceed 7,000. Various cities and provinces are competing to establish soccer schools, and the number is expected to surpass 10,000 soon. The age range is also diverse. From college students to middle-aged women, people of all ages come together to enjoy the game. Reflecting the increased demand, the Korea Futsal Federation will operate the women's division of the community sports tournament this year by dividing it into Division 1 and Division 2. The Korea Professional Football League will also launch a women's futsal competition in the second half of the year.

Although it has rapidly risen as a community sport, the system for nurturing and encouraging players is poor. Only 1,459 players are registered. It cannot even be compared to countries like Japan and Australia, which have over 400,000 players. However, the skill level is not lacking. The women's national soccer team finished as runners-up at the 2022 Asian Cup held in Navi Mumbai, India, last February. Although criticism poured in after a 2-3 comeback loss to China in the final, it was essentially a David versus Goliath struggle. Interest in the foundational WK League is fading. Attendance is low, and matches are held on weekday afternoons. Live broadcasts are only streamed on YouTube. Even Ji So-yeon (Suwon FC), who played for eight years at Chelsea FC Women, the strongest team in the English Women's Super League (WSL), returned but failed to create a big impact.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Ji So-yeon, who will debut in the WK League in the match against Boeun Sangmu on the 18th, said, "Europe is going crazy over the UEFA Women's Euro 2022. It's a completely different world from here." She added, "I knew the difference in recognition between the WSL and WK League, but coming here and experiencing it firsthand made me think even more." She said, "The players seemed accustomed to playing in quiet and dull stadiums. When playing, there should be a festive atmosphere, but it looked like they thought of it as just their own league." She emphasized, "Players need to raise their voices about poor infrastructure such as artificial turf. It is a right that players can claim and a part that must be protected."

There are signs of improvement. Suwon FC will introduce a paid admission system for the first time in the WK League this year. Since its founding in 2009, the WK League has operated all matches with free admission. This was due to lower recognition than the K League and a lack of operational staff. The poor operating environment of the clubs still poses an obstacle to introducing a paid admission system. In Suwon FC's case, the men's professional team front office can be utilized for marketing, but other clubs run by local governments or public enterprises do not have enough personnel to manage this. Ji So-yeon insisted, "It has to start with soccer broadcasting." She said, "In the UK, there was no women's soccer broadcast at first, but as BBC and Sky Sports showed interest, sponsors appeared, and it was able to develop. Not only the internal aspects of the game but also the external systems must be established so that fear disappears when starting soccer."