South Korea’s leading telecom firm KT signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korea Football Association on Tuesday to sponsor the national soccer team until 2019. 

At an MOU signing ceremony at Hwaseong Sports Complex in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, KT and Korean soccer’s governing body vowed to work together for the growth of the nation’s soccer program and related businesses.

KT vice president Oh Young-ho, vice chairman of the KAF Kim Ho-gon, head coach of the national soccer squad Uli Stielike, and some national soccer players were present at the event.

The mobile carrier will now have the exclusive rights to manage ads on the uniforms and soccer ball.

The company will also hold the rights to the players’ publicity and the use of the national soccer team’s emblem.

“KT will try to contribute to the growth of the nation’s soccer program and come up with effective and differentiated sports marketing programs,” the KT vice president said.

The sponsorship will be valid during international soccer’s 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and is set to end in May 2019.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)