Gwangyang City U-17 Team Wins International Youth Soccer Championship in Shenyang
Over 300 Teams from 10 Countries Compete at the Peace Cup
A Milestone Victory Elevates Gwangyang's Global Profile
The Gwangyang City U-17 youth soccer team from Jeollanam-do claimed the championship title by winning the final match of the 11th Peace Cup International Youth Soccer Tournament held in Shenyang, China.
The tournament took place from August 12 to 18 at the Shenyang Peace Cup World Soccer Park, drawing fierce competition from over 300 teams and more than 5,000 players representing 10 countries, including New Zealand, Japan, Thailand, Mongolia, and Russia.
Gwangyang City dispatched a delegation of 29 people, including 24 players from the Gwangyang Jecheol High School soccer team, an elite squad under the K League’s Jeonnam Dragons with a 30-year tradition, as well as accompanying public officials, honorary interpreters, and medical staff.
The city’s youth team competed in the U-17 division, facing strong teams from China, Taiwan, and Malaysia, and achieved overwhelming results in the preliminaries with scores of 13:0, 3:1, and 5:0. In the final, they defeated the representative team from Jinan, Shandong Province, China, and proudly lifted the championship trophy.
During the tournament, local media focused on the performances of Coach Lee Jaehyung and the players, highlighting Gwangyang City’s international stature and the competitiveness of Korean youth soccer.
This victory is regarded as more than just a match result; it is a valuable achievement in which student athletes improved their skills and gained international experience by interacting with youth from around the world.
Jung Seungjae, Head of the Steel and Port Division, stated, "The youth soccer team’s victory on the world stage not only marks individual growth but also widely promotes Gwangyang City’s status globally. This outcome is the result of support from all citizens, and we will continue to actively support international youth exchanges and sports activities to further enhance Gwangyang City’s global capabilities."
Meanwhile, Gwangyang City also sent a working-level delegation along with the youth soccer team. The delegation visited key institutions such as the Shenyang Free Trade Zone, port facilities, advanced industrial complexes, and the Youth Startup Center, engaging in practical exchanges to explore potential cooperation in the industrial, cultural, and tourism sectors.
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