Tragic Story of ‘North Korean Ronaldo’: A Soccer Dream Lost to Political Whims

The Return of North Korean Football Star Han Kwang Song

You might have heard about North Korean striker Han Kwang Song if you’re a soccer fan. Han, who had suddenly disappeared from the soccer scene, recently returned.

On the 16th, Han made a starting lineup in the second round of the 2026 North Central American World Cup Asian qualifiers against Syria. This match occurred at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Han, wearing number 10, took the field as a left-wing in the first half and played until being substituted. Syria won the match 1-0.

Subsequently, on the 21st, Han started in the second round of the B-group away match against Myanmar at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon. He scored one goal and one assist to his team’s 6-1 victory. After scoring his team’s third goal, Han assisted Jong Il Gwan’s fourth goal.

Early Career and European Experience

Han Kwang Song, known as the “North Korean Ronaldo,” was born in Pyongyang on September 11, 1998. In 2010, aiming to revitalize its soccer industry, North Korea sent several promising young players, including Han, to Europe to gain broader experience.

Han ended up in Barcelona, Spain, where he sharpened his skills at CE Tecnofutbol. Finally, he realized his dream of signing with a European professional team. In 2017 Han joined Cagliari Calcio, a Serie A team in Italy.

He swiftly marked his professional debut. On April 2, 2017, he entered the Serie A scene, appearing as a substitute in a game against Palermo. This debut marked Han as the first North Korean player in Serie A, and he quickly made a significant impact by scoring a goal in just his second Serie A match. This achievement distinguished him as the first North Korean national to score in the Serie A league.

During the 2017-2018 season, AC Perugia Calcio took him on loan in Serie B. Han, who scored a hat-trick in the opening match, had a respectable record of 7 goals and 3 assists in the first half of the season. After the 2018-2019 season, Juventus FC, the most successful club in Serie A history, acquired him.

Finally, Han made it to a big club. He played for Juventus in the 2019-2020 season. He received plenty of playing opportunities in the Juventus U-23 team, scoring 1 goal and providing 2 assists, proving his potential.

Challenges Faced in Qatar League and Release

Yet, only six months after his debut, Han abruptly switched to Al-Duhail SC in the Qatar League. This move did not reflect his playing abilities, as he was a regular starter and had plenty of playing time. It became clear that the North Korean authorities pushed for his move to the Middle Eastern league, seeking a higher salary.

Italian media reported that Han was crying on the plane to Qatar and that “even if he had to play in Serie B, he wanted to stay in Europe.” Wearing the number 9 jersey at Al-Duhail, Han continued his career as a player, scoring points in the AFC Champions League and the Qatar League.

Unsuccessful Contract Negotiations and Return to North Korea

However, Han’s career faced another setback. He was released from Al-Duhail, a decision influenced by UN Security Council Resolution 2397, which requires the expulsion of North Korean foreign workers. Following his release, Han sought to join the Malaysian league, but unfortunately, the contract negotiations were unsuccessful.

The last known whereabouts of Han, as tracked by CNN, was that he spent a long time in Rome waiting for a flight to Pyongyang to return to North Korea. He reportedly returned to North Korea via Beijing in August 2023.

The one who took away the dream of Han’s soccer life was none other than the state itself. It’s known that Han received a salary of more than 1.6 million euros (approximately $1.8 million) at Al-Duhail. Still, apart from 2 million won (approximately $1,680) for living expenses, he sent everything back to North Korea.

Sacrifices and Political Influence

In an interview with CNN, Nicholas Pennington, an Australian midfielder and Han’s teammate at Cagliari shared his observations about Han’s soccer career and personal experiences. Pennington observed that political reasons cut short Han’s lifelong soccer career. He remarked on Han’s adaptability to new environments, overshadowed by the constant presence of a person Han called a ‘bodyguard.’ Pennington further noted that this individual promptly intervened whenever North Korea came up in conversation, halting any direct engagement.

South Korean players of the same age, Lee Kang In, Hwang Hee Chan, and Cho Gye Seung, are freely running on the grounds overseas. However, we don’t know if Han plays soccer in North Korea. He sacrificed his young talent and the money he earned with his sweat to a state focused on building missiles. There is no compensation for Han, who sacrificed his dream. Who and what was this sacrifice for?

By. Noh Chan Hyuk