Learn Korean: Iran Women's Soccer Team's Silent Protest

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Korean Reading Practice

'국가 침묵' 이란 女축구…트럼프 "호주가 받아달라, ...

Date: March 10, 2026

Introduction

This reading material discusses the recent controversy surrounding the Iranian women's soccer team and their refusal to sing their national anthem during a match at the Asian Cup tournament. The story highlights the political and human rights implications of this act and the calls for the players to be granted asylum in Australia.

Vocabulary

Korean Romanization Meaning Example
국가 gukga national anthem 그들은 국가를 부르기를 거부했다.They refused to sing the national anthem.
침묵 chimmok silence 그들의 국가 침묵은 많은 논란을 일으켰다.Their silence during the national anthem caused a lot of controversy.
반감 bangam resentment 그들의 행동은 정부에 대한 반감을 보여주었다.Their actions showed their resentment towards the government.
애국심 aeguksim patriotism 그들의 행동은 애국심의 부족으로 해석되었다.Their actions were interpreted as a lack of patriotism.
수치심 suchisim shame 이란 TV는 그들의 행동을 "수치심의 극치"라고 비난했다.Iranian TV criticized their actions as "the height of shame."
정치적 난민 jeongchijeok nanmin political refugee 호주 인권단체들은 선수단 전체를 정치적 난민으로 수용해야 한다고 주장했다.Australian human rights groups called for the entire team to be accepted as political refugees.
보호 boho protection 트럼프 대통령은 이란 여자 축구대표팀을 보호해야 한다고 호소했다.President Trump appealed for the Iranian women's soccer team to be protected.
결단 gyeoldan determination 호주 정부의 결단을 촉구했다.He urged the Australian government to make a determination.
탈락 tallak elimination 이란 여자 축구대표팀은 이번 대회에서 탈락했다.The Iranian women's soccer team was eliminated from the tournament.
반역자 banyeokja traitor 이란 TV는 그들을 "전시 반역자"라고 비난했다.Iranian TV criticized them as "wartime traitors."

Reading Text

지난 2일 여자축구 아시안컵 대회 한국전에서 이란 대표팀 선수들이 국가 제창을 하지 않아 화제가 됐다. 이들의 행동은 정부에 대한 반감을 드러낸 것으로 해석됐다.

On February 2nd, during the women's Asian Cup match against South Korea, the Iranian national team players refused to sing their national anthem, which caused a stir. Their actions were interpreted as a display of resentment towards the government.

이란 국영 TV의 모하마드 레자 샤바지는 방송에서 "(전쟁 상황에서) 국가 제창을 거부하는 행위는 수치심과 애국심 결여의 극치"라면서 "전시 반역자"라고 공개 비난했다.

Mohammad Reza Shabazi of Iranian state TV publicly criticized them, saying that "refusing to sing the national anthem in a time of war is the height of shame and lack of patriotism," and calling them "wartime traitors."

현지 매체에 따르면 파테메 파산디데, 자흐라 간바리 등 선수 5명이 이미 숙소를 이탈해 호주 연방경찰의 보호 아래 안전가옥으로 이동한 것으로 알려졌다.

According to local media, 5 players, including Fatemeh Pasandideh and Zohre Kanbari, have already left their accommodations and moved to a safe house under the protection of the Australian Federal Police.

호주 내 인권단체들은 이란 선수단 전체를 정치적 난민으로 수용해야 한다고 목소리를 높이고 있다.

Human rights groups in Australia are calling for the entire Iranian team to be accepted as political refugees.

도널드 트럼프 미국 대통령이 2026 AFC 여자 아시안컵 일정을 마치고 귀국을 앞둔 이란 여자 축구대표팀을 보호해야 한다며 호주 정부의 결단을 촉구했다.

Donald Trump, the US President, urged the Australian government to make a determination to protect the Iranian women's soccer team as they return home from the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup.

이란 여자 축구대표팀은 이번 대회에서 3전 전패, 무득점 9실점이라는 초라한 성적으로 탈락했다.

The Iranian women's soccer team was eliminated from the tournament with a dismal record of 3 losses, 0 goals scored, and 9 goals conceded.

Grammar Points

-에 따라(서) depending on / according to

Attached to a noun, '-에 따르면' means 'according to (a source)'. It is the conditional/quotative form of -에 따르다, commonly used in news writing to cite sources.

📖 현지 매체에 따르면 파테메 파산디데, 자흐라 간바리 등 선수 5명이 이미 숙소를 이탈해 호주 연방경찰의 보호 아래 안전가옥으로 이동한 것으로 알려졌다. According to local media, five players including Fatemeh Pasandideh and Zahra Ghanbari had already left their accommodation and were reportedly moved to a safe house under the protection of the Australian Federal Police.

✏️ 뉴스에 따르면 내일 비가 많이 온다고 한다. According to the news, it is said that it will rain a lot tomorrow.

-고 있다 be ~ing

Verb stem + -고 있다 expresses an ongoing action or state, equivalent to the English present progressive '-ing'.

📖 호주 내 인권단체들은 이란 선수단 전체를 정치적 난민으로 수용해야 한다고 목소리를 높이고 있다. Human rights groups in Australia are raising their voices, saying that the entire Iranian delegation should be accepted as political refugees.

✏️ 그는 요즘 한국어를 열심히 공부하고 있다. He is studying Korean hard these days.

Cultural Notes

The refusal to sing the national anthem is a significant political act in Iran, where public displays of dissent against the government are heavily suppressed. The Iranian women's soccer team's actions during the Asian Cup tournament have drawn international attention to the human rights issues faced by athletes and citizens in the country.

Source: 네이버 뉴스 | Original Article
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📝 Comprehension Questions

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Q1

Why did the Iranian women's soccer team players refuse to sing their national anthem during the Asian Cup match?

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Q2

How did the Iranian state media react to the players' actions?

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Q3

What happened to some of the Iranian players after the match?

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Q4

What are the human rights groups in Australia calling for regarding the Iranian team?

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Q5

What did President Trump urge the Australian government to do regarding the Iranian team?

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