By Na-Kyoung Kim, AUSF Student Media Contributor
6 March 2026
SEOUL, South Korea – When female students at Hanyang University wanted a chance to play football themselves, they decided to create that opportunity.
In March 2023, a group of students from the Department of Sports Science founded Hanyang FC Ladies, originally under the name HY-LION. What began as a small initiative by female sports science students has since grown into a team made up of students from eight different majors across the university. Today, the club regularly participates in women’s university football leagues and futsal competitions.
Before the team was established, opportunities for female students to actively take part in sports on campus were limited. While several football clubs existed, most were male dominated and female students often participated as managers or in supporting roles rather than as players. Similar patterns could be seen in other sports clubs such as basketball and volleyball.
Determined to change that environment, the students decided to build a space where women could play football themselves. That vision led to the creation of HY-LION, the university’s first women’s sports team.
However building and maintaining the team came with its own challenges. Recruiting players and sustaining regular participation was not easy especially as many members were new to football and needed time to learn the fundamentals. As players left and new members joined, the team often had to restart training from the basics. Despite these difficulties the players remained committed to their goal.
“Of course achieving good results matters,” said team captain Park Ji-ye. “But what we really wanted was to help more female students develop an interest in sports and football and keep participating.”
The team continued to gain experience by competing in tournaments whenever possible. One of their most memorable moments came during the WUFL Let’s Play Women’s University Football Club League. Although the competition was designed as an eight-a-side tournament, Hanyang FC Ladies faced an unexpected challenge. Due to injuries and a shortage of players the team had only six players available and no substitutes. Technically they could have withdrawn from the match. But no one suggested giving up.
“What I remember most is that everyone kept running until the very end, even though it was difficult,” Park recalled.
The players encouraged one another throughout the match, pushing forward together despite the disadvantage. The experience ultimately strengthened the team’s bond and left a lasting impression on its members.
For many players, joining the team also carried personal meaning. Son Myeong-bin, a member of Hanyang FC Ladies, said opportunities for women to learn football were often limited. “Football is still a sport that many women find difficult to access. Even if you want to learn, there aren’t many places where you can actually start,” Son said. “But through HY-Lion(Hanyang FC Ladies), I was able to learn the basics of the sport I love and even experience playing in real matches.”
Another player, Kwon Ha-young, said the team provided an environment where female students could challenge themselves without hesitation. “One day I suddenly thought I wanted to learn football, and I discovered that our university had a women’s football club,” Kwon said. “Being able to play with women my age made it much easier for me to try. Watching other girls run, sweat and enjoy football together gave me a lot of energy.”
For its members, Hanyang FC Ladies has become more than just a football club. It is a space where they can overcome hesitation and pursue opportunities that once felt out of reach.
Looking ahead, captain Park hopes women’s football and women’s sports will become more accessible to students across campus. She believes the team can grow beyond a sports club and become a community where students from different backgrounds come together and develop as teammates.
“I hope women’s football becomes more popular so it’s not seen as something difficult to join,” Park said. “I want our club to be a team where different people come together and grow into a strong, united group.”
Since its founding, Hanyang FC Ladies has continued to create opportunities for female students to experience sports and challenge themselves on the field. While obstacles remain, the team is steadily carving out a place for women’s football on campus.
