Jeju SK FC facts for kids
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| Full name | Jeju SK Football Club 제주SK축구단 |
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| Founded | 1982 (as Yukong FC) | ||
| Ground | Jeju World Cup Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 29,791 | ||
| Owner | SK Energy | ||
| Chairman | Koo Chang-yong | ||
| Manager | Kim Hak-bum | ||
| League | K League 1 | ||
| 2024 | K League 1, 7th of 12 | ||
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Jeju SK FC (in Korean: 제주 SK FC) is a professional football team from South Korea. The club is based in Jeju Province and plays in the K League 1, which is the top football league in the country. Over the years, the team has had several names, including Yukong Elephants, Bucheon SK, and Jeju United.
Contents
The Club's Journey
Early Years as Yukong Elephants
The club was started on December 17, 1982, as Yukong FC. It was one of the first professional football clubs in South Korea. The team's mascot was an elephant, so they were nicknamed the Yukong Elephants. The club was owned by the company Yukong, which is now known as SK Energy.
When the professional league, called the Korean Super League, began, the Yukong Elephants were one of the founding teams. They won the league championship once, in 1989.
At first, the league didn't have a system where teams played at their own home stadiums. When this system started in 1987, the club was based around Seoul, the capital city. They even shared a stadium with two other clubs.
Moving to a New Home
In 1995, the government in Seoul wanted the football clubs to move to other cities. This was part of a plan to spread professional football across the country. The clubs were told they could return to Seoul if they built their own special football stadiums there.
So, in 1996, the Yukong Elephants moved to the city of Bucheon, which is near Seoul. The team changed its name to Bucheon SK in 1997. They played in a stadium in Seoul for a few years before their new home, the Bucheon Leports Complex, was ready in 2001.
A New Beginning in Jeju
In February 2006, the club made a surprise move to Jeju Island. They changed their name again, this time to Jeju United FC.
The team had some ups and downs. In 2010, they had a great season and finished as the runners-up in the league. This allowed them to play in the AFC Champions League, a major tournament for Asian clubs. They played in the Champions League again in 2017 and 2018.
However, the 2019 season was difficult. The team did not perform well and finished at the bottom of the league. This meant they were relegated, or moved down, to the second division, the K League 2, for the first time.
But they didn't stay down for long! The very next year, in 2020, they won the K League 2 and earned a promotion right back to the top league.
In 2025, the club changed its name to Jeju SK FC. This was to show a stronger connection with its parent company, the SK Group.
Where the Club Has Been Based
| Club name | City / Area | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Yukong Elephants | Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi | 1983 |
| Yukong Elephants | Seoul | 1984–1986 |
| Yukong Elephants | Incheon, Gyeonggi | 1987–1990 |
| Yukong Elephants | Seoul – Dongdaemun Stadium | 1991–1995 |
| Bucheon Yukong Bucheon SK |
Seoul – Mokdong Stadium | 1996 |
| Bucheon SK | Bucheon – Bucheon Stadium | 1997–2005 |
| Jeju United | Jeju – Jeju World Cup Stadium | 2006–2024 |
| Jeju SK | 2025–present |
Stadium and Facilities
Jeju SK plays its home games at the Jeju World Cup Stadium. It is located in Seogwipo, the second-largest city on Jeju Island. The stadium can hold 29,791 fans. Before moving to Jeju, the team played at stadiums in Seoul and Bucheon.
The team also has its own training center in Seogwipo, called the Jeju SK FC Club House. This is where the players practice and prepare for their matches.
Club Culture and Fans
The club has a few fun mascots. The main mascot is Gam Gyuri, who is known for being a strong leader for the team. The other mascots are Hallahalbang and Baeknogi.
The official supporters' group for the club is called Pungbaek (풍백). These are the dedicated fans who cheer for the team at every game.
Players
Current Squad
Here are the players on the Jeju SK team. The list includes their jersey number, home country, name, and position.
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Honours
Here is a list of the major trophies and championships the club has won.
- K League 1 (Top Division)
'Winners (1)': 1989 Runners-up (5): 1984, 1994, 2000, 2010, 2017
- K League 2 (Second Division)
'Winners (1)': 2020
- Korean FA Cup
Runners-up (1): 2004
- Korean League Cup
'Winners (3)': 1994, 1996, 2000s Runners-up (2): 1998, 1998s
See also
In Spanish: Jeju SK Football Club para niños
