K League facts for kids
| 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 Two |
| Current champions | Ulsan Hyundai (2023) |
| Most championships | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (9 titles) |
| TV partners | JTBC Golf&Sports Sky Sports (South Korea) |
The K League (Hangul: K리그) is South Korea's main professional football league. It has two parts: the top division called K League 1 and the second division called K League 2. It's where the best football teams in South Korea play against each other.
Contents
History of the K League
Before the 1980s, football in South Korea had leagues for semi-professional players and university students. These players didn't focus only on football. In 1979, the Korea Football Association (KFA) wanted to create a league where players could be full-time professionals.
The first professional football club, Hallelujah FC, was started in 1980. In 1983, the KFA quickly created the Korean Super League. It had two professional clubs and three semi-professional clubs. The goal was to make South Korean football fully professional. Over time, more clubs became professional and joined the league. In the early days, teams could even move up from the semi-professional league.
However, fewer people came to watch the games. So, in 1987, the league changed its name to the Korean Professional Football League. It also started using a home and away system. This meant teams played games in their own cities to get more fans interested.
In 1994, the league became more independent from the KFA. It was renamed the "Korean Professional Football Federation." In 1996, a new plan was introduced to spread football's popularity across the country. This was partly because South Korea wanted to host the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Some teams in the capital city, Seoul, moved to other cities. But this plan didn't work well and was stopped after only three years. In 1998, the league got its current name, the K League.
The K League changed to its current two-division format in 2013. The top division was called K League Classic, and the second was K League Challenge. These names were a bit confusing. So, in 2018, they were renamed to K League 1 and K League 2. In 2021, a special online TV service called K League TV was launched for fans around the world.
How the K League Works
The K League 1 is the top level, and K League 2 is the second level. Together, they form the professional K League. Below them are semi-professional leagues (K3 and K4) and amateur leagues (K5, K6, K7).
Right now, teams can move up or down within the professional, semi-professional, and amateur levels. But teams from K3 and below cannot move up to the K League yet. The KFA plans to connect all these leagues by 2027. This means teams could eventually move all the way from amateur leagues to the K League.
Since 2021, teams in K League 1 and K League 2 can have their reserve teams play in the K4 League.
K League Clubs
Current K League 1 Teams
Current K League 2 Teams
All-Time K League Clubs
Since 1983, 36 different clubs have been part of the K League. When a club changes its name, its history and records usually carry over to the new name. Clubs shown in italics no longer exist.
| No. | Club |
|---|---|
| 1 | POSCO Dolphins (1983–1984) POSCO Atoms (1985–1994) Pohang Atoms (1995–1996) Pohang Steelers (1997–present) |
| 2 | Hallelujah FC (1983–1985) |
| 3 | Yukong Elephants (1983–1995) Bucheon Yukong (1996–1997) Bucheon SK (1997–2005) Jeju United (2006–present) |
| 4 | Daewoo Royals (1983–1995) Busan Daewoo Royals (1996–1999) Busan I'Cons (2000–2004) Busan IPark (2005–present) |
| 5 | Kookmin Bank (1983–1984) |
| 6 | Hyundai Horang-i (1984–1995) Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i (1996–2007) Ulsan Hyundai (2008–2023) Ulsan HD (2024–present) |
| 7 | Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso (1984–1990) LG Cheetahs (1991–1995) Anyang LG Cheetahs (1996–2003) FC Seoul (2004–present) |
| 8 | Hanil Bank FC (1984–1986) |
| 9 | Sangmu FC (1985) |
| 10 | Ilhwa Chunma (1989–1995) Cheonan Ilhwa Chunma (1996–1999) Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (2000–2013) Seongnam FC (2014–present) |
| 11 | Chonbuk Buffalo (1994) |
| 12 | Jeonbuk Dinos (1995–1996) Jeonbuk Hyundai Dinos (1997–1999) Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (2000–present) |
| 13 | Jeonnam Dragons (1995–present) |
| 14 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings (1996–present) |
| 15 | Daejon Citizen (1997–2019) Daejeon Hana Citizen (2020–present) |
| 16 | Gwangju Sangmu (2003–2010) |
| 17 | Daegu FC (2003–present) |
| 18 | Incheon United (2004–present) |
| 19 | Gyeongnam FC (2006–present) |
| 20 | Gangwon FC (2009–present) |
| 21 | Sangju Sangmu (2011–2020) |
| 22 | Gwangju FC (2011–present) |
| 23 | Police FC (2013) Ansan Police (2014–2015) Ansan Mugunghwa (2016) |
| 24 | Goyang Hi FC (2013–2015) Goyang Zaicro (2016) |
| 25 | Chungju Hummel (2013–2016) |
| 26 | Suwon FC (2013–present) |
| 27 | Bucheon FC 1995 (2013–present) |
| 28 | FC Anyang (2013–present) |
| 29 | Seoul E-Land (2015–present) |
| 30 | Asan Mugunghwa (2017–2019) |
| 31 | Ansan Greeners (2017–present) |
| 32 | Chungnam Asan (2020–present) |
| 33 | Gimcheon Sangmu (2021–present) |
| 34 | Gimpo FC (2022–present) |
| 35 | Cheonan City (2023–present) |
| 36 | Chungbuk Cheongju (2023–present) |
K League Champions
Here are the champions of K League 1 and K League 2 over the years:
| 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 and Relegation Play-offs
Since 2013, the K League has special play-off games. These games decide if a team from K League 1 will stay in the top division or if a K League 2 team will move up.
- The team that finishes 11th in K League 1 plays against the team that finishes 2nd in K League 2.
- The first game is played at the K League 2 team's home stadium.
- The second game is played at the K League 1 team's home stadium.
Starting in 2022, another play-off was added. The team that finishes 10th in K League 1 plays against the team that finishes 3rd in K League 2.
| Season | K League 1 | Aggregate | K League 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Gangwon FC | 2–4 | Sangju Sangmu | 1–4 | 1–0 |
| 2014 | Gyeongnam FC | 2–4 | Gwangju FC | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| 2015 | Busan IPark | 0–3 | Suwon FC | 0–1 | 0–2 |
| 2016 | Seongnam FC | 1–1 (a) | Gangwon FC | 0–0 | 1–1 |
| 2017 | Sangju Sangmu | 1–1 (5–4 p) | Busan IPark | 1–0 | 0–1 (aet) |
| 2018 | FC Seoul | 4–2 | Busan IPark | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| 2019 | Gyeongnam FC | 0–2 | Busan IPark | 0–0 | 0–2 |
| 2020 | Not held | ||||
| 2021 | Gangwon FC | 4–2 | Daejeon Hana Citizen | 0–1 | 4–1 |
| 2022 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 2–1 | FC Anyang | 0–0 | 2–1 (aet) |
| Gimcheon Sangmu | 1–6 | Daejeon Hana Citizen | 1–2 | 0–4 | |
| 2023 | Gangwon FC | 2–1 | Gimpo FC | 0–0 | 2–1 |
| Suwon FC | 6–4 | Busan IPark | 1–2 | 5–2 (aet) | |
Records and Statistics
The K League keeps track of records and statistics for K League 1, K League 2, and the Korean League Cup. K League records and statistics
Rules for Foreign Players
When the K League started in 1983, teams could have two foreign players. Over the years, these rules changed.
- From 1996, teams could have five foreign players, but only three could play in a game at the same time.
- Since 1999, foreign goalkeepers are not allowed in the league. This rule was made because many teams started using foreign goalkeepers too much.
- In 2001 and 2002, the limit went up to seven foreign players, but still only three could play at once. This was temporary because many Korean players were busy with the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
- The number of foreign players allowed has changed several times since then.
- Since 2009, teams can have four foreign players, with one spot saved for a player from an AFC country.
- Since 2020, teams can also sign a player from Southeast Asia under a special rule called the ASEAN Quota.
| Season | Lineup | Squad | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983–1993 | 2 | 2 | |
| 1994 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1995 | 3 | 3 | |
| 1996–2000 | 3 | 5 | Foreign goalkeepers were limited in 1997 and 1998, and banned since 1999.
|
| 2001–2002 | 3 | 7 | Temporary rule because many players were called up for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. |
| 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. |
Club Relocations
In the early years, K League teams didn't really have a home city. They traveled around to different stadiums for all their games. Since 1987, teams have played home and away games in their own cities.
In 1996, a policy was started to spread football's popularity. This meant some clubs based in Seoul had to move to other cities. Since 1996, all clubs must include their 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) |
K League Awards
Annual Awards
Each year, the K League gives out special awards to players and managers who have done very well.
- K League Most Valuable Player Award (Best Player)
- K League Top Scorer Award (Most Goals)
- K League Top Assist Provider Award (Most Assists)
- K League Young Player of the Year Award (Best Young Player)
- K League Manager of the Year Award (Best Coach)
- K League Best XI (Team of the Year)
- K League FANtastic Player (Fan Favorite Player)
Hall of Fame
The K League Hall of Fame honors important players and leaders from its history.
| Year | Inductee | Category | Clubs | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Choi Soon-ho | Stars | POSCO Atoms (1983–1987, 1991) Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso (1988–1990) |
|
| 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 |
K League Sponsors
Big companies have sponsored the K League over the years, helping to support the league.
| 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
In Spanish: K League para niños
- Football in South Korea
- Korean League Cup
- K League All-Star Game
- Korean Super Cup
- List of K League licensed video games
- R League
