{
  "id": 8393848,
  "title": "Former K League player Ahn Young-hak makes surprise Asian Games appearance to support NK team",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/former-k-league-player-ahn-young-hak-makes-surprise-asian-games-8393848",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-19T06:17:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/sports/20260919/former-k-league-player-ahn-young-hak-makes-surprise-asian-games-appearance-to-support-nk-team"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former North Korean footballer Ahn Young-hak made an unexpected appearance at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan to support his former North Korean teammates and the younger players. The 1978-born resident of Japan made his mark in international football with North Korea, earning 40 appearances between 2002 and 2012 while scoring three goals. His professional career began in Japan's J.League with Albirex Niigata in 2002, followed by stints with Nagoya Grampus and Busan I Park in South Korea. Ahn's journey continued with a brief time at Suwon Samsung Bluewings in 2008, before returning to the J.League with Omiya Ardija in 2010. Maintaining his passion for football, Ahn transitioned to coaching after retiring as a player, running youth soccer classes with Xportsnews at halftime.",
  "summary": "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…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Former K League player Ahn Young-hak makes surprise Asian Games appearance to support NK team",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/former-k-league-player-ahn-young-hak-makes-surprise-asian-games",
        "published": "2026-09-19T06:07:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Chelsea vs. Birmingham, Women’s Super League: Preview, team news, how to watch",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/chelsea-vs-birmingham-womens-super-league-preview-team-news-how-to",
        "published": "2026-09-19T07:14:09.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}