K League 1 facts for kids
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| Organising body | K League Federation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1983 |
| Country | South Korea |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | K League 2 |
| Domestic cup(s) | Korean FA Cup |
| International cup(s) | AFC Champions League Elite AFC Champions League Two |
| Current champions | Ulsan Hyundai (4th title) (2023) |
| Most championships | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (9 titles) |
| TV partners | JTBC Golf&Sports IB Sports Sky Sports (South Korea) Coupang Play Next Level Sports |
| K League 1 | |
| Hangul |
K리그 원
|
|---|---|
| Revised Romanization | K rigeu one |
| McCune–Reischauer | K rigŭ wŏn |
The K League 1 (Hangul: K리그1) is the top professional football league for men in South Korea. It's where the best football clubs in the country compete. There are twelve teams that play in this exciting league.
Contents
History of K League 1
The K League 1 started a long time ago, in 1983. Back then, it was called the Korean Super League. Only five clubs played in the very first season. The first team to win the championship was Hallelujah FC. They won by just one point!
Over the years, the league changed its name a few times. It became the Korean Professional Football League in 1987. Later, in 1998, it was simply called the K League.
In 2013, the K League grew bigger and split into two parts. The top division became the K League Classic. A new second division was created, called the K League Challenge. Both are now part of the bigger K League system. On January 22, 2018, the top league was officially renamed K League 1. The league has grown a lot, from 5 teams to 22 teams across both divisions.
How the League Works
The K League 1 has a system where teams can move up or down. This is called promotion and relegation. Since 2012, teams that finish at the bottom of K League 1 can be moved down to K League 2. At the same time, top teams from K League 2 can move up to K League 1. This makes every game important!
The league also uses a "split system." First, all teams play each other three times. After these games, the league splits into two groups:
- The top six teams play in "Split A."
- The bottom six teams play in "Split B."
Teams in each group then play each other one more time. This helps decide the final champions and which teams might be relegated.
More About the K League 1
The K League season usually starts around March. It finishes in late November each year. The number of games and teams has changed over time.
Many K League clubs are owned by big South Korean companies. These companies often give their teams local city names. This helps the clubs connect more with their local communities. Other teams are owned by local governments.
The top teams in K League 1 get to play in international competitions. The champions, runners-up, and third-placed team usually enter the AFC Champions League. This is a big tournament for clubs across Asia. However, Sangmu FC, which is a military team, cannot join. If the winner of the Korean FA Cup (another big tournament) hasn't already qualified, the fourth-placed team might also get a spot.
In 2009, Gangwon FC joined the league. This was a special moment because it meant every province in South Korea had at least one professional football club.
K League 1 Teams
| Club | Location | Stadium | First season | Current spell | Seasons | Last title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daegu FC | Daegu | DGB Daegu Bank Park | 2003 | 2017– | 19 | — |
| Daejeon Hana Citizen | Daejeon | Daejeon World Cup Stadium | 1997 | 2023– | 20 | — |
| Gangwon FC | Gangwon | Chuncheon Songam Stadium Gangneung Stadium |
2009 | 2017– | 13 | — |
| Gimcheon Sangmu | Gimcheon | Gimcheon Stadium | 2022 | 2024– | 2 | — |
| Gwangju FC | Gwangju | Gwangju Football Stadium | 2011 | 2023– | 9 | — |
| Incheon United | Incheon | Incheon Football Stadium | 2004 | 2004– | 20 | — |
| Jeju United | Jeju Province | Jeju World Cup Stadium | 1983 | 2021– | 41 | 1989 |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | North Jeolla | Jeonju World Cup Stadium | 1995 | 1995– | 30 | 2021 |
| Pohang Steelers | Pohang | Pohang Steel Yard | 1983 | 1983– | 42 | 2013 |
| FC Seoul | Seoul | Seoul World Cup Stadium | 1984 | 1984– | 41 | 2016 |
| Suwon FC | Suwon | Suwon Stadium | 2016 | 2021– | 5 | — |
| Ulsan HD | Ulsan | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium | 1984 | 1984– | 41 | 2023 |
K League 1 Champions
Champions by Season
Top Performing Clubs
List of South Korean football champions
Where to Watch K League 1
You can watch K League 1 matches on TV and online.
In South Korea
| Broadcaster | What they show |
|---|---|
| JTBC Golf&Sports | Most matches are shown live. |
| Sky Sports (South Korea) | One live match every Saturday and Sunday. |
| IB Sports | One live match every Saturday. |
| KBS1 (terrestrial) | One match is shown every Sunday at 1:00 AM. |
| Coupang Play | All matches are available live online. |
Outside South Korea
As of 2024
| Country/region | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
 Australia |
Optus Sport |
| Balkans | Sportklub |
 China |
K-Ball |
| CIS | TV Start |
 Hong Kong |
TVB |
 Indonesia |
TVRI Sport |
 Macau |
Macau Cable TV |
 Malaysia |
Astro SuperSport |
 United States |
FanDuel TV |
| Worldwide | K League TV |
See also
In Spanish: K League 1 para niños
- K League records and statistics
- List of foreign K League 1 players
