| K League | |
| Pixels: | 180px |
| Country: | South Korea |
| Organiser: | Korea Football Association (1983–1986) K League Federation (1987–1988) Korea Football Association (1989–1994) K League Federation (1994–present) |
| Confed: | AFC |
| Founded: | 1983 |
| Teams: | 25 |
| Divisions: | K League 1 K League 2 |
| Levels: | 1–2 |
| Pyramid: | South Korean football league system |
| Domest Cup: | Korean FA Cup |
| Confed Cup: | AFC Champions League Elite AFC Champions League Two |
| Most Champs: | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (9 titles) |
| Champions: | Ulsan Hyundai (2023) |
| Tv: | JTBC Golf&Sports Sky Sports (South Korea) |
| Current: | 2024 K League 1 2024 K League 2 |
K League is South Korea's professional football league. It includes the first division K League 1 and the second division K League 2.[1] [2]
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.
In February 2021, an OTT service for international markets called K League TV was officially launched.[9]
See main article: South Korean football league system. 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.[10]
Since 2021, K League 1 and K League 2 teams have been permitted to field their reserve teams in the K4 League.[11]
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):
| 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) | ||
| 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 |
The K League promotion-relegation play-offs were introduced in 2013 and are contested between the eleventh-placed team of K League 1 and the runners-up of 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. Starting in 2022, another series was added between the tenth-placed team of K League 1 and the third-placed team of K League 2.
| Season | K League 1 | Aggregate | K League 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2–4 | Sangju Sangmu | 1–4 | 1–0 | ||
| 2–4 | Gwangju FC | 1–3 | 1–1 | ||
| 0–3 | Suwon FC | 0–1 | 0–2 | ||
| 1–1 (a) | Gangwon FC | 0–0 | 1–1 | ||
| Sangju Sangmu | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | ||
| FC Seoul | 4–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | ||
| 0–2 | Busan IPark | 0–0 | 0–2 | ||
| 2020 | Not held | ||||
| Gangwon FC | 4–2 | 0–1 | 4–1 | ||
| Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | ||
| 1–6 | Daejeon Hana Citizen | 1–2 | 0–4 | ||
| Gangwon FC | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | ||
| Suwon FC | 6–4 | 1–2 | 5–2 | ||
See main article: K League records and statistics. K League officially includes records of K League 1, K League 2 and Korean League Cup in its statistics.
See also: List of foreign K League 1 players and List of foreign K League 2 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.
|
| 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|-|align="left"|2020–present|3+1+1|3+1+1|+1 AFC player +1 Southeast Asian player; only used by K League 2 since 2023.|-|align="left"|2023–present|3+1|5+1|+1 AFC player; only used by K League 1. |
See main article: K League decentralization policy. 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) | |
| Jeju United | Seoul–Incheon–Gyeonggi (1983) → Seoul (1984) | Seoul → Incheon–Gyeonggi (1987) → Seoul (1991) → Bucheon (2001) → Jeju (2006) | |
| Busan IPark | Busan–Gyeongnam (1983) | Busan–Gyeongnam → Busan (1989) | |
| Ulsan HD | 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 | — | Gwangju (2003) → Sangju (2011) → Gimcheon (2021) | |
| Asan Mugunghwa | — | Unlocated (2013) → Ansan (2014) → Asan (2017) |
| 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) | ||
| 2023 | Shin Tae-yong | Stars | Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (1992–2004) | ||
| 2023 | Lee Dong-gook | Stars | Pohang Steelers (1998–2002, 2005–2006) Gwangju Sangmu (2003–2005) Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (2008) Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (2009–2020) | ||
| 2023 | Kim Jung-nam | Leaders | Yukong Elephants (1985–1992) Ulsan Hyundai (2000–2008) | ||
| 2023 | Park Tae-joon | Honors | Pohang Steelers Jeonnam Dragons |
| 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 |
| 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 |