A new chapter in Korean football development through Bundesliga collaboration
The DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga and the Korea Football Association (KFA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance youth development and strengthen football ties, including launching the Bundesliga Dream project in Korea.
The DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga and the Korea Football Association (KFA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance youth development and strengthen football ties, including launching the Bundesliga Dream project in Korea.
As part of the MoU, the DFL and KFA will work together to advance technical and sporting expertise within Korea, with a particular emphasis on youth development. Central to this collaboration is the introduction of the Bundesliga Dream project to Korea for the first time. 
The Bundesliga Dream, which has already made significant strides in countries like China and Thailand, is a youth development initiative that provides talented young players with an opportunity to train at top-tier Bundesliga academies in Germany. Participants gain invaluable experience both on and off the pitch, from receiving elite coaching and playing competitive matches against German youth teams to immersing themselves in a professional football environment. The project has become a key pillar of the Bundesliga’s international strategy to foster emerging talent and deepen football connections globally.
In addition to launching the Bundesliga Dream, the DFL and its member clubs will collaborate closely with KFA officials and Korean clubs to share knowledge and best practices in areas such as league operations, club management, and player development. This initiative underscores both organizations’ shared vision of supporting the continued growth of the K League as one of Asia’s premier football leagues.
The DFL has been the most active European league for supporting football development across Asia in recent years. The Bundesliga Dream activation has been a cornerstone of the league’s efforts, with 10 editions bringing more than 200 promising young footballers to Germany to experience life at elite-level training academies and playing regularly against some of the best young talents in Europe. The initiative aims to create a long-term pathway, which helps to develop the attributes of these players, both on and off the pitch.
The first edition of Bundesliga Dream in Korea will focus on U-16 men’s national team, supporting the squad in their preparations for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, which will take place in Qatar in November, 2025. 1. FSV Mainz 05 and Hamburger SV will each host the team for two weeks, before two players are selected for an additional week of training.
The Bundesliga is one of the most popular European leagues in Korea, with national team stars such as Min-jae Kim (FC Bayern Munich) and Jae-sung Lee (1. FSV Mainz 05) currently competing in the top flight. The KFA will support the DFL in continuing to raise the profile of the Bundesliga in Korea, through a range of activations with local stakeholders in the market.
Bundesliga International Managing Director and Chief Marketing Officer Peer Naubert said: “From Bum-Kun Cha to Min-jae Kim, the Bundesliga is proud of the deep-rooted association it has with Korean football, which spans many decades. By formalizing our long-standing relationship, both sides have made a clear commitment to one another, and I am particularly pleased to have Bundesliga Dream as a core element of this partnership. Through this player pathway, we not only support the development of football in Korea, but create more opportunities for talented young players to train and hopefully one day play in the Bundesliga.”
Vice President of KFA, Jeong Bae Kim said: “Many Korean national team players, including Heung-min Son and Min-jae Kim, have developed into world-class players with the Bundesliga. I believe this project will also greatly contribute to the growth of talented Korean youth players. Moving forward, we aim to establish a continuous collaborative relationship with the Bundesliga for long-term development.”
Kim was the 23rd Korean to play in the German top flight, continuing a long tradition of world class Taegeuk Warriors calling the Bundesliga home. From trailblazer Bum-kun Cha, named Asian player of the 20th century after winning the 1980 and 1998 UEFA Cup, as well as the 1981 DFB Pokal, to current national team captain Heung-min Son, who made his name with Hamburger SV before moving to Bayer 04 Leverkusen, the Bundesliga has consistently been the stage for the best and most exciting Korean players. Furthermore, the Bundesliga has welcomed more players from the Asian continent than the rest of the other top five European leagues combined.
Source: Press Release from the Bundesliga
