K League
K League (Korean: K리그) is South Korea's professional football league.
It includes the first division K League 1 and the second division K League 2.
| Organising body | Korea Football Association (1983–1986) K League Federation (1987–1988) Korea Football Association (1989–1994) K League Federation (1994–present) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1983 |
| Country | South Korea |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Divisions | K League 1 K League 2 |
| Number of teams | 25 |
| Level on pyramid | 1–2 |
| Domestic cup(s) | Korean FA Cup |
| International cup(s) | AFC Champions League Elite AFC Champions League 2 |
| Current champions | Ulsan Hyundai (2023) |
| Most championships | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (9 titles) |
| TV partners | JTBC Golf&Sports Sky Sports (South Korea) |
| Website | www |
| Current: 2024 K League 1 2024 K League 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, and made South Korea's first professional football club Hallelujah FC the next year. After the South Korean professional baseball league KBO League was founded in 1982, the KFA was aware of crisis about the popularity of football. 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. 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.
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. Beginning with the 2018 season, both divisions were renamed the K League 1 and the K League 2 respectively.
In February 2021, an OTT service for international markets called K League TV was officially launched.
Structure
Below K League 1 is the second-tier K League 2, and both form the K League as professional championships. Under them, there are two semi-professional leagues (K3 League and K4 League) and three amateur leagues (K5, K6 and K7 Leagues). At present, promotion and relegation exists within each of the three levels (professional, semi-professional, and amateur) but clubs from K3 and below cannot be promoted to the K League. However, the KFA has announced plans to combine the three promotion-relegation systems into one from 2027.
Since 2021, K League 1 and K League 2 teams have been permitted to field their reserve teams in the K4 League.
Clubs
Current clubs
K League 1
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 (1983–1984) POSCO Atoms (1985–1994) Pohang Atoms (1995–1996) Pohang Steelers (1997–present) | POSCO |
| 2 | Hallelujah FC (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 (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 (1983–1984) | Kookmin Bank |
| 6 | Hyundai Horang-i (1984–1995) Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i (1996–2007) Ulsan Hyundai (2008–2023) Ulsan HD (2024–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 | 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 | 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 | Sangju Sangmu (2011–2020) | Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps Sangju Government |
| 22 | Gwangju FC (2011–present) | Gwangju Government |
| 23 | Police FC (2013) Ansan Police (2014–2015) Ansan Mugunghwa (2016) | KNP Sports Club Ansan Government (2014–2016) |
| 24 | Goyang Hi FC (2013–2015) Goyang Zaicro (2016) | |
| 25 | Chungju Hummel (2013–2016) | Hummel Korea |
| 26 | Suwon FC (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 | 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 | Gimcheon Sangmu (2021–present) | Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps Gimcheon Government |
| 34 | Gimpo FC (2022–present) | Gimpo Government |
| 35 | Cheonan City (2023–present) | Cheonan Government |
| 36 | Chungbuk Cheongju (2023–present) | Cheongju Government |
