Former K League player Ahn Young-hak makes surprise Asian Games appearance to support NK team

Former member of the North Korean national football team Ahn Young-hak, who also played in the K League, made a rare appearance in Japan to watch and support his former teammates and younger players at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Ahn attended the men's Group B opening match between China and North Korea on Wednesday at Wave Stadium Kariya in Kariya, Aichi Prefecture. Born in 1978 in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, near Hiroshima, Ahn is a third-generation Korean resident of Japan. Ahn, who played for North Korea at international tournaments, made 40 appearances for the national team between 2002 and 2012, scoring three goals. He made his professional debut with J.League club Albirex Niigata in 2002 and later played for Nagoya Grampus. In 2006, he joined K League club Busan I'Park, beginning his football career in South Korea. He spent two years with Suwon Samsung Bluewings from 2008 before returning to the J.League with Omiya Ardija in 2010. Ahn, who met with Xportsnews at halftime, said he has been working as a youth soccer coach since retiring as a player. "I run football classes