K League
Organising bodyKorea Football Association
(1983–1986)
K League Federation
(1987–1988)
Korea Football Association
(1989–1994)
K League Federation
(1994–present)
Founded1983
CountrySouth Korea
ConfederationAFC
DivisionsK League 1
K League 2
Number of teams25
Level on pyramid1–2
Domestic cup(s)Korean FA Cup
International cup(s)AFC Champions League Elite
AFC Champions League 2
Current championsUlsan Hyundai (2023)
Most championshipsJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
(9 titles)
TV partnersJTBC Golf&Sports
Sky Sports (South Korea)
Websitewww.kleague.com
Current:
2024 K League 1
2024 K League 2

K League (Hangul: K리그) is South Korea's professional football league. It includes the first division K League 1 and the second division K League 2.[1][2]

History

Until the 1970s, South Korean football operated two major football leagues, the National Semi-professional Football League and the National University Football League, but these were not professional leagues in which footballers could focus on only football. In 1979, however, the Korea Football Association (KFA)'s president Choi Soon-young planned to found a professional football league,[3] and made South Korea's first professional football club Hallelujah FC the next year.[4] After the South Korean professional baseball league KBO League was founded in 1982, the KFA was aware of crisis about the popularity of football.[5] In 1983, it urgently made the Korean Super League with two professional clubs (Hallelujah FC, Yukong Elephants) and three semi-professional clubs (POSCO Dolphins, Daewoo Royals, Kookmin Bank) to professionalize South Korean football. Then, the Super League accomplished its purpose after existing clubs were also converted into professional clubs (POSCO Atoms, Daewoo Royals) and new professional clubs joined the league. In the early years, it also showed a promotion system by giving qualifications to the Semi-professional League winners. (Hanil Bank in 1984, Sangmu FC in 1985)

However, the number of spectators was consistently decreased despite KFA's effort, and so the professional league, renamed as the Korean Professional Football League, operated home and away system to interest fans since 1987.[6] On 30 July 1994, the Professional League Committee under KFA was independent of the association, and renamed as the "Korean Professional Football Federation". In 1996, South Korean government and the Football Federation introduced a decentralization policy to proliferate the popularity of football nationally in preparation for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, which they wanted to host. Several clubs located in the capital Seoul moved to other cities according to the new policy, but this was abolished after only three years and is regarded as a failed policy because it gave up the most populous city in South Korea. In 1998, the league was renamed again as current K League.[7]

It had the current format by abolishing the K League Championship and the Korean League Cup after the 2011 season, and being split into two divisions in 2013. The first division's name was the K League Classic, and the second division's name was the K League Challenge at the time. The fact that both the first and the second divisions had very similar names caused some degree of confusion and controversy.[8] Beginning with the 2018 season, both divisions were renamed the K League 1 and the K League 2 respectively.

On February 23, 2021, an OTT platform named "K League TV" officially began its service: born from a partnership between K League and their official relay operator abroad, Sportradar, the platform would guarantee access to users from almost the whole world (except for Korea), broadcast K League 1 and K League 2 matches in real time and host game highlights and interviews. K League TV also represented the first official portal to publish content about both the championships in English.[9]

Structure

Below the K League 1, there is the K League 2, and both form the K League as professional championships. Under them, there are two semi-professional leagues (K3 League, K4 League) and several amateur leagues, but their clubs cannot be promoted to K League.

However, since 2021 K League 1 and K League 2 teams have been allowed to create reserve teams set to play in the K4 League.[10]

Promotion and Relegation between K League 2 and third tier K3 League starting from 2023 season after nine seasons did not feature promotion and relegation.

Clubs

Current clubs

K League 1

  1. 1 2 Gangwon FC has two home stadiums.

K League 2

All-time clubs

As of 2024, there have been a total of 36 member clubs in the history of the K League – those clubs are listed below with their current names (where applicable):

  • K League's principle of official statistics is that final club succeeds to predecessor club's history and records.
  • Clubs in italics no longer exist.
No. Club Owner(s)
1 POSCO Dolphins[lower-alpha 1] (1983–1984)
POSCO Atoms (1985–1994)
Pohang Atoms (1995–1996)
Pohang Steelers (1997–present)		 POSCO
2 Hallelujah FC[lower-alpha 2] (1983–1985) Shindongah Group
3 Yukong Elephants (1983–1995)
Bucheon Yukong (1996–1997)
Bucheon SK (1997–2005)
Jeju United (2006–present)		 SK Energy
4 Daewoo Royals[lower-alpha 3] (1983–1995)
Busan Daewoo Royals (1996–1999)
Busan I'Cons (2000–2004)
Busan IPark (2005–present)		 Daewoo (1983–1999)
HDC Group (2000–present)
5 Kookmin Bank[lower-alpha 4] (1983–1984) Kookmin Bank
6 Hyundai Horang-i (1984–1995)
Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i (1996–2007)
Ulsan Hyundai (2008–2023)
Ulsan HD FC (2023–present)		 Hyundai Motor Company (1984–1997)
Hyundai Heavy Industries (1998–present)
7 Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso (1984–1990)
LG Cheetahs (1991–1995)
Anyang LG Cheetahs (1996–2003)
FC Seoul (2004–present)		 LG Group (1984–2004)
GS Group (2004–present)
8 Hanil Bank FC (1984–1986) Hanil Bank
9[lower-alpha 5] Sangmu FC (1985) Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps
10 Ilhwa Chunma (1989–1995)
Cheonan Ilhwa Chunma (1996–1999)
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (2000–2013)
Seongnam FC (2014–present)		 Ilwha Company (1989–2013)
Seongnam Government (2014–present)
11 Chonbuk Buffalo (1994) Bobae Soju
12 Jeonbuk Dinos (1995–1996)
Jeonbuk Hyundai Dinos (1997–1999)
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (2000–present)		 Hyunyang Company (1995–1999)
Hyundai Motor Company (1995–present)
13 Jeonnam Dragons (1995–present) POSCO
14 Suwon Samsung Bluewings (1996–present) Samsung Electronics (1996–2014)
Cheil Worldwide (2014–present)
15 Daejon Citizen (1997–2019)
Daejeon Hana Citizen (2020–present)		 Dong Ah Group (1997–1998)
Chungchong Bank (1997–1998)
Dongyang Department Store (1997–1999)
Kyeryong Construction Company (1997–2002)
Daejeon Government (2003–2019)
Hana Financial Group (2020–present)
16[lower-alpha 5] Gwangju Sangmu (2003–2010) Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps
Gwangju Government
17 Daegu FC (2003–present) Daegu Government
18 Incheon United (2004–present) Incheon Government
19 Gyeongnam FC (2006–present) Gyeongnam Provincial Government
20 Gangwon FC (2009–present) Gangwon Provincial Government
21[lower-alpha 5] Sangju Sangmu (2011–2020) Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps
Sangju Government
22 Gwangju FC (2011–present) Gwangju Government
23[lower-alpha 6] Police FC (2013)
Ansan Police (2014–2015)
Ansan Mugunghwa (2016)		 KNP Sports Club
Ansan Government (2014–2016)
24 Goyang Hi FC[lower-alpha 7] (2013–2015)
Goyang Zaicro (2016)
25 Chungju Hummel[lower-alpha 8] (2013–2016) Hummel Korea
26 Suwon FC[lower-alpha 9] (2013–present) Suwon Government
27 Bucheon FC 1995 (2013–present) Bucheon Government
28 FC Anyang (2013–present) Anyang Government
29 Seoul E-Land (2015–present) E-Land Group
30[lower-alpha 6] Asan Mugunghwa (2017–2019) KNP Sports Club
Asan Government
31 Ansan Greeners (2017–present) Ansan Government
32 Chungnam Asan (2020–present) Asan Government
Chungnam Provincial Government
33[lower-alpha 5] Gimcheon Sangmu (2021–present) Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps
Gimcheon Government
34 Gimpo FC[lower-alpha 10] (2022–present) Gimpo Government
35 Cheonan City[lower-alpha 11] (2023–present) Cheonan Government
36 Chungbuk Cheongju[lower-alpha 12] (2023–present) Cheongju Government
  1. ↑ Founded as a semi-professional club POSCO FC on 1 April 1973.
  2. ↑ Founded as a semi-professional club on 20 December 1980
  3. ↑ Founded as a semi-professional club Saehan Motors on 22 November 1979
  4. ↑ Founded as a semi-professional club on 29 September 1969
  5. 1 2 3 4 Sangmu, Gwangju Sangmu, Sangju Sangmu and Gimcheon Sangmu are separate legal entities according to the K League Federation
  6. 1 2 Ansan Mugunghwa and Asan Mugunghwa are separate legal entities according to the K League Federation
  7. ↑ Founded as a semi-professional club Hallelujah FC on 3 April 1999
  8. ↑ Founded as a semi-professional club Hummel FC on 9 December 1999
  9. ↑ Founded as a semi-professional club Suwon City on 15 March 2003
  10. ↑ Founded as a semi-professional club Gimpo Citizen on 29 January 2013
  11. ↑ Founded as a semi-professional club in 2008
  12. ↑ Founded as a semi-professional club Cheongju FC in 2002

Champions

Year K League 1 K League 2
1983 Hallelujah FC No second-tier
professional league
1984 Daewoo Royals
1985 Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso
1986 POSCO Atoms
1987 Daewoo Royals
1988 POSCO Atoms
1989 Yukong Elephants
1990 Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso
1991 Daewoo Royals
1992 POSCO Atoms
1993 Ilhwa Chunma
1994 Ilhwa Chunma
1995 Ilhwa Chunma
1996 Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i
1997 Busan Daewoo Royals
1998 Suwon Samsung Bluewings
1999 Suwon Samsung Bluewings
2000 Anyang LG Cheetahs
2001 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
2002 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
2003 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
2004 Suwon Samsung Bluewings
2005 Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i
2006 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
2007 Pohang Steelers
2008 Suwon Samsung Bluewings
2009 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
2010 FC Seoul
2011 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
2012 FC Seoul
2013 Pohang Steelers Sangju Sangmu
2014 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Daejeon Citizen
2015 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Sangju Sangmu
2016 FC Seoul Ansan Mugunghwa
2017 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Gyeongnam FC
2018 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Asan Mugunghwa
2019 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Gwangju FC
2020 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Jeju United
2021 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Gimcheon Sangmu
2022 Ulsan Hyundai Gwangju FC
2023 Ulsan Hyundai Gimcheon Sangmu

Promotion-relegation playoffs

The K League promotion-relegation playoffs were introduced in 2013 and are contested between the eleventh-placed team of the K League 1 and the runners-up of the K League 2. The first leg is always played at the second division team's home ground, while the second leg is played at the first division team's home ground.

Season K League 1 Aggregate K League 2 1st leg 2nd leg
2013Gangwon FC2–4Sangju Sangmu1–41–0
2014Gyeongnam FC2–4Gwangju FC 1–31–1
2015Busan IPark0–3Suwon FC 0–10–2
2016Seongnam FC1–1 (a)Gangwon FC 0–01–1
2017Sangju Sangmu1–1 (5–4 p)Busan IPark1–00–1 (a.e.t.)
2018FC Seoul 4–2Busan IPark3–11–1
2019Gyeongnam FC0–2Busan IPark0–00–2
2020Not held[lower-alpha 1]
2021Gangwon FC 4–2Daejeon Hana Citizen0–14–1
2022Suwon Samsung Bluewings2–1FC Anyang0–02–1 (a.e.t.)
Gimcheon Sangmu1–6Daejeon Hana Citizen1–20–4
2023Gangwon FC2–1Gimpo FC0–02–1
Suwon FC6–4Busan IPark1–25–2 (a.e.t.)
  1. ↑ Two K League 1 teams were relegated, so the runners-up of K League 2 were directly promoted.

Records and statistics

K League officially includes records of K League 1, K League 2 and Korean League Cup in its statistics.

As of 25 November 2020[11]
Category Record holder Record
Appearances South Korea Kim Byung-ji 706
Goals South Korea Lee Dong-gook 228
Assists South Korea Yeom Ki-hun 110
Clean sheets South Korea Kim Byung-ji 229
Longest goal South Korea Kwon Jung-hyuk 85 m
Fastest goal South Korea Bang Seung-hwan 00:11
Fastest assist South Korea Lee Jae-sung 00:18

    Restriction of foreign players

    At the inception of the K League in 1983, only two Brazilian players made rosters. At the time, rules allowed each club to have three foreign players and that the three could also play simultaneously in a game. From the 1996 season, each team had five foreign players among whom three could play in a game at the same time. Since 1999, foreign goalkeepers are banned from the league because South Korean clubs excessively employed foreign goalkeepers after watching Valeri Sarychev's performances at that time.[12] In 2001 and 2002, the limit on foreign players was expanded to seven but only three could play in a game at the same time. The limit was lowered to five in 2003, four in 2005, and three in 2007. Since 2009, the number of foreign players went back up to four per team, including a slot for a player from AFC countries. Since 2020, Southeast Asian players can be registered under the ASEAN Quota.[13]

    Season Lineup Squad Note
    1983–1993 2 2
    1994 2 3
    1995 3 3
    1996–2000 3 5 The number of foreign goalkeepers' appearances was limited in 1997 and 1998,
    and their employment is being banned since 1999.
    • 1997 season: Two-thirds of all matches
    • 1998 season: One-third of all matches
    • 1999–present: Banned in the league
    2001–2002 3 7 Temporary operation due to frequent call-ups of the World Cup team.
    2003–2004 3 5
    2005 3 4
    2006–2008 3 3
    2009–2019 3+1 3+1 +1 AFC player
    2020–present 3+1+1 3+1+1 +1 AFC player +1 Southeast Asian player; only used by K League 2 since 2023.
    2023–present 3+1 5+1 +1 AFC player; only used by K League 1.

    Relocation of clubs

    In early years, the hometowns of K League clubs were determined,[14] but they were pointless in substance because the clubs played all K League matches by going around all stadiums together. The current home and away system is being operated since 1987. The clubs were relocated from provinces to cities in 1990, but clubs are currently based in their area regardless of province and city since 1994. In 1996, the decentralization policy was operated. In result 3 clubs based in Seoul were relocated. Since 1996, it is obligatory for all clubs to include hometown name in their club name.

    Club National tour system (1983–1986) Home and away system (1987–present)
    Pohang Steelers Daegu–Gyeongbuk (1983) Daegu–Gyeongbuk → Pohang (1988[lower-alpha 1])
    Jeju United Seoul–Incheon–Gyeonggi (1983) → Seoul (1984) Seoul → Incheon–Gyeonggi (1987) → Seoul (1991) → Bucheon (2001[lower-alpha 2]) → Jeju (2006)
    Busan IPark Busan–Gyeongnam (1983) Busan–Gyeongnam → Busan (1989[lower-alpha 3])
    Ulsan Hyundai Incheon–Gyeonggi (1984) → Incheon–Gyeonggi–Gangwon (1986) Gangwon (1987) → Ulsan (1990)
    FC Seoul Chungnam–Chungbuk (1984) Chungnam–Chungbuk → Seoul (1990) → Anyang (1996) → Seoul (2004)
    Seongnam FC — Seoul (1989) → Cheonan (1996) → Seongnam (2000)
    Gimcheon Sangmu[lower-alpha 4] — Gwangju (2003) → Sangju (2011) → Gimcheon (2021)
    Asan Mugunghwa[lower-alpha 5] — Unlocated[lower-alpha 6] (2013) → Ansan (2014) → Asan (2017)
    1. ↑ K League officially introduced the relocation policy to cities in 1990, but POSCO Atoms already followed it in 1988.
    2. ↑ Bucheon Yukong decided Bucheon as its new city in 1996, but played its home matches at Mokdong Stadium located in Mok-dong, Seoul until 2000, because Bucheon Stadium was under construction during that time.
    3. ↑ K League officially introduced the relocation policy to cities in 1990, but Daewoo Royals already followed it in 1989.
    4. ↑ Gwangju Sangmu, Sangju Sangmu, and Gimcheon Sangmu are separate legal entities according to K League. Officially not relocated and founded as a new club.
    5. ↑ Police FC, Ansan Police, and Asan Mugunghwa are separate legal entities according to K League. Officially not relocated and re-founded as a new civil club named Chungnam Asan, in 2019.
    6. ↑ Played all matches at away stadiums.

    Awards

    Annual awards

    Hall of Fame

    Year Inductee Category Clubs Ref.
    2023 Choi Soon-ho Stars POSCO Atoms (1983–1987, 1991)
    Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso (1988–1990)    		 [15]
    2023 Hong Myung-bo Stars Pohang Steelers (1992–1997, 2002) [15]
    2023 Shin Tae-yong Stars Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (1992–2004) [15]
    2023 Lee Dong-gook Stars Pohang Steelers (1998–2002, 2005–2006)
    Gwangju Sangmu (2003–2005)
    Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (2008)
    Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (2009–2020)    		 [15]
    2023 Kim Jung-nam Leaders Yukong Elephants (1985–1992)
    Ulsan Hyundai (2000–2008)    		 [15]
    2023 Park Tae-joon Honors Pohang Steelers
    Jeonnam Dragons    		 [15]

    Sponsorship

    Sponsor Season Competition
    None 1983–1993 Korean Professional Football League
    Hite 1994–1995 Hite Cup Korean League
    Rapido 1996–1997 Rapido Cup Professional Football League
    Hyundai Group 1998 Hyundai Cup K-League
    Hyundai Securities 1999 Buy Korea Cup K-League
    Samsung Electronics 2000 Samsung DigiTall K-League
    POSCO 2001 POSCO K-League
    Samsung Electronics 2002 Samsung PAVV K-League
    2003–2008 Samsung Hauzen K-League
    None 2009 K-League
    Hyundai Motor Company 2010 Sonata K League
    Hyundai Oilbank 2011–2016 Hyundai Oilbank K League
    Hana Bank 2017–2018 KEB Hana Bank K League
    2019–present Hana 1Q K League

    See also

    References

    1. ↑ "In search of Korea's disappearing Red Devils". Korea JoongAng Daily. 6 June 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
    2. ↑ "South Korean Teams Fight for Attention at Home". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
    3. ↑ "崔蹴協회장 후원회는 法人등록 北韓·中共과도 교류". Naver.com (in Korean). Kyunghyang. 31 January 1979. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
    4. ↑ 韓國球界 「프로時代」올것인가 「할렐루야」蹴球團 10월 창단을 계기로 본 「難題」속의 期待‥‥그展望과문제점. Naver.com (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. 18 April 1980. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
    5. ↑ Kim, Deok-gi (16 January 2013). [김덕기의 프로축구 10950] 슈퍼리그, 1983년 5월8일 팡파르. Naver.com (in Korean). Sportalkorea. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
    6. ↑ 프로蹴球 명예回復 선언. Naver.com (in Korean). Kyunghyang. 24 February 1987. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
    7. ↑ 서울 연고 이랜드프로축구단 출범…FC서울과 '투톱'. Naver.com (in Korean). Korea Economic Daily. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
    8. ↑ 위원석의 하프타임 'K리그'에 새로운 이름을 붙여주자 (in Korean). Sports Seoul. 19 February 2013. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013.
    9. ↑ "K League OTT Platform Launched for Overseas Fans - K LEAGUE / K리그". www.kleague.com. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
    10. ↑ "K3·K4리그 대표자회의 개최...3월 7일 개막". www.kfa.or.kr. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
    11. ↑ "K League Data Portal" (in Korean). K League. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
    12. ↑ [원투펀치 328회 2부] K리그 역대 베스트 키퍼 Top7. TV.Kakao.com (in Korean). Daum. 24 September 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
    13. ↑ "News: K League to Introduce ASEAN Quota in 2020". K League United. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
    14. ↑ K League history - 1983 season (in Korean). K League. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
    15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 ‘K리그 명예의 전당’ 초대 헌액자 발표 (in Korean). K League. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
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