Korea Republic football league system
Encyclopedia
The South Korean football league system contains three unconnected leagues
for Korean
football
clubs. The Korean system is different from many other national league system
s, in the sense that there is no official direct route for movement between any of the three divisions.
The highest level of football in South Korea is the K-League
, the only fully professional football league in the country. Below the level of the K-League is the semi-professional National League, which serves as the second division. A third level is the amateur Challengers League, was added to the setup in 2007.
At present there is no avenue for progression between any of the leagues. In 2006 and 2007, the champions of the National League had been eligible for entry to the K-League provided they met certain criteria. Both Goyang Kookmin Bank
and Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin FC
, who won the league in 2006 and 2007 respectively, refused the chance to move up to the K-League. In light of those rejections, the National League discontinued the conditional promotion system ahead of the 2008 season.
was a semi-professional football league between corporate teams in South Korea
from 1964 to 2002. since 1983, established K-League
, Korea Football League
remained second tier league until 2002 before Korea National League, at that time called K2 League, was officially founded in 2003.
was created in 1983 and remained the only officially organized league competition in the country until the creation of the National League in 2003. The Challengers League was created in 2007 to give the structure as it exists today. For each division, its official name, sponsored name and number of clubs is given:
* As of 2011 season
Below this league structure there are many amateur, university and youth level competitions at varying levels. From 2008, the U-League
, a league competition for university football clubs, will begin though it is likely to remain completely independent from the league structure above.
and National League sides qualify for the Korean FA Cup
tournament. The top four sides from the Challengers League gained qualification to the next season's FA Cup tournament. Additional qualifiers come from amateur and university level.
The K-League Cup
competition is open to K-League teams only, whilst sides from the National League can compete in the National Championship. From 2011, Challengers Cup
competition is open to Challengers League teams.
. The K-League champion automatically gains entry to the AFC Champions League
along with the A3 Champions Cup
. And championship playoff second, third club also gains entry to the AFC Champions League
. The Korean FA Cup
winners qualify for the AFC Champions League
only. However, if the champions of Korean FA Cup
are not members of K-League, the fourth place of K-League championship playoffs gains the entry.
League system
A league system is a hierarchy of leagues in a sport, usually with a system of promotion and relegation between consecutive levels of the hierarchy. They are often called pyramids due to their tendency to split into an increasing number of regional divisions the further down the pyramid one descends...
for Korean
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
clubs. The Korean system is different from many other national league system
League system
A league system is a hierarchy of leagues in a sport, usually with a system of promotion and relegation between consecutive levels of the hierarchy. They are often called pyramids due to their tendency to split into an increasing number of regional divisions the further down the pyramid one descends...
s, in the sense that there is no official direct route for movement between any of the three divisions.
The highest level of football in South Korea is the K-League
K-League
The Korea Professional Football League is South Korea's only fully professional association football league. At the top of the South Korean football league system, it is the country's highest and most prestigious level of football competition currently contested by 16 clubs.-Establishment:The...
, the only fully professional football league in the country. Below the level of the K-League is the semi-professional National League, which serves as the second division. A third level is the amateur Challengers League, was added to the setup in 2007.
At present there is no avenue for progression between any of the leagues. In 2006 and 2007, the champions of the National League had been eligible for entry to the K-League provided they met certain criteria. Both Goyang Kookmin Bank
Kookmin Bank FC
Kookmin Bank FC is a South Korean football club based in the Seoul satellite city of Goyang. It currently plays in the National League, the second tier of Korean football.- K-League Membership :...
and Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin FC
Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dockyard
Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Dolphins FC is a South Korean soccer club based in the city of Ulsan. They currently play in the National League. They are owned and operated by Hyundai Mipo Dockyard and play their home games at Ulsan Sports Complex Stadium....
, who won the league in 2006 and 2007 respectively, refused the chance to move up to the K-League. In light of those rejections, the National League discontinued the conditional promotion system ahead of the 2008 season.
Former system
Korea Football LeagueKorea Football League
The Korea Football League was a semi-professional football league between corporate teams in South Korea held from 1964 to 2002. It was the predecessor of Korea National League which was founded in 2003.-Before 1963:...
was a semi-professional football league between corporate teams in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
from 1964 to 2002. since 1983, established K-League
K-League
The Korea Professional Football League is South Korea's only fully professional association football league. At the top of the South Korean football league system, it is the country's highest and most prestigious level of football competition currently contested by 16 clubs.-Establishment:The...
, Korea Football League
Korea Football League
The Korea Football League was a semi-professional football league between corporate teams in South Korea held from 1964 to 2002. It was the predecessor of Korea National League which was founded in 2003.-Before 1963:...
remained second tier league until 2002 before Korea National League, at that time called K2 League, was officially founded in 2003.
| Season | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964-1982 | Korea Football League Korea Football League The Korea Football League was a semi-professional football league between corporate teams in South Korea held from 1964 to 2002. It was the predecessor of Korea National League which was founded in 2003.-Before 1963:... |
||
| 1983-2002 | K-League K-League The Korea Professional Football League is South Korea's only fully professional association football league. At the top of the South Korean football league system, it is the country's highest and most prestigious level of football competition currently contested by 16 clubs.-Establishment:The... |
Korea Football League Korea Football League The Korea Football League was a semi-professional football league between corporate teams in South Korea held from 1964 to 2002. It was the predecessor of Korea National League which was founded in 2003.-Before 1963:... |
|
| 2003-2005 | K-League K-League The Korea Professional Football League is South Korea's only fully professional association football league. At the top of the South Korean football league system, it is the country's highest and most prestigious level of football competition currently contested by 16 clubs.-Establishment:The... |
K2 League | |
| 2006 | K-League K-League The Korea Professional Football League is South Korea's only fully professional association football league. At the top of the South Korean football league system, it is the country's highest and most prestigious level of football competition currently contested by 16 clubs.-Establishment:The... |
Korea National League | |
| 2007-2010 | K-League K-League The Korea Professional Football League is South Korea's only fully professional association football league. At the top of the South Korean football league system, it is the country's highest and most prestigious level of football competition currently contested by 16 clubs.-Establishment:The... |
Korea National League | K3 League K3 League The Challengers League is a top amateur football competition in South Korea. Created in 2007, it is the third tier of South Korean football league system-History:2007 was the inaugural season of the K3 League, and ten teams competed in the competition.... |
Current system
The K-LeagueK-League
The Korea Professional Football League is South Korea's only fully professional association football league. At the top of the South Korean football league system, it is the country's highest and most prestigious level of football competition currently contested by 16 clubs.-Establishment:The...
was created in 1983 and remained the only officially organized league competition in the country until the creation of the National League in 2003. The Challengers League was created in 2007 to give the structure as it exists today. For each division, its official name, sponsored name and number of clubs is given:
| Level | League / Division |
|---|---|
| 1 | K-League K-League The Korea Professional Football League is South Korea's only fully professional association football league. At the top of the South Korean football league system, it is the country's highest and most prestigious level of football competition currently contested by 16 clubs.-Establishment:The... (Hyundai Oilbank K-League) 16 clubs |
| 2 | Korea National League (Samsung Life Insurance Samsung Life Insurance Samsung Life Insurance is a multinational insurance company headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, and a subsidiary of the Samsung Group. It is the largest insurance company in South Korea and a Fortune Global 500 company.... National League) 14 clubs |
| 3 | Challengers League (Daum Challengers League) 16 clubs |
Below this league structure there are many amateur, university and youth level competitions at varying levels. From 2008, the U-League
Korea University Football League
The U-League is a university football competition in Korea Republic. Created in 2008, it is the first organized league competition for university football teams and will operate outside of the regular Korean football league structure.-History:...
, a league competition for university football clubs, will begin though it is likely to remain completely independent from the league structure above.
Domestic cups
All K-LeagueK-League
The Korea Professional Football League is South Korea's only fully professional association football league. At the top of the South Korean football league system, it is the country's highest and most prestigious level of football competition currently contested by 16 clubs.-Establishment:The...
and National League sides qualify for the Korean FA Cup
Korean FA Cup
The Korean FA Cup is a national cup knockout competition involving K-League, National League, and various amateur and university-level clubs which is held by KFA....
tournament. The top four sides from the Challengers League gained qualification to the next season's FA Cup tournament. Additional qualifiers come from amateur and university level.
The K-League Cup
Korean League Cup
In addition to Adidas Cup, K-League launched new cup tournamnet in 1997. But these competitions were a short-lived just for 4 years. Busan I'Park dominated it, winning the trophy on two of the four occasions and finishing runners-up once....
competition is open to K-League teams only, whilst sides from the National League can compete in the National Championship. From 2011, Challengers Cup
Challengers Cup
Challengers Cup is a South Korean football competition operated by the Korea Football Association. It is played on a knockout basis and only Challengers League's clubs can enter the competition....
competition is open to Challengers League teams.
Continental Competition
At present, four South Korean sides qualify automatically for the AFC Champions LeagueAFC Champions League
The AFC Champions League is the premier Asian club football competition hosted annually by Asian Football Confederation . The tournament is contested among the top thirty-two clubs from the top 10 Asian leagues, two of which must qualify through the playoffs...
. The K-League champion automatically gains entry to the AFC Champions League
AFC Champions League
The AFC Champions League is the premier Asian club football competition hosted annually by Asian Football Confederation . The tournament is contested among the top thirty-two clubs from the top 10 Asian leagues, two of which must qualify through the playoffs...
along with the A3 Champions Cup
A3 Champions Cup
A3 Champions Cup was an annual football tournament sanctioned by the East Asian Football Federation. It began in 2003, involving the league champions of China, Japan and South Korea. The host nation also invited an additional team, making this a four team tournament. South Korea was the most...
. And championship playoff second, third club also gains entry to the AFC Champions League
AFC Champions League
The AFC Champions League is the premier Asian club football competition hosted annually by Asian Football Confederation . The tournament is contested among the top thirty-two clubs from the top 10 Asian leagues, two of which must qualify through the playoffs...
. The Korean FA Cup
Korean FA Cup
The Korean FA Cup is a national cup knockout competition involving K-League, National League, and various amateur and university-level clubs which is held by KFA....
winners qualify for the AFC Champions League
AFC Champions League
The AFC Champions League is the premier Asian club football competition hosted annually by Asian Football Confederation . The tournament is contested among the top thirty-two clubs from the top 10 Asian leagues, two of which must qualify through the playoffs...
only. However, if the champions of Korean FA Cup
Korean FA Cup
The Korean FA Cup is a national cup knockout competition involving K-League, National League, and various amateur and university-level clubs which is held by KFA....
are not members of K-League, the fourth place of K-League championship playoffs gains the entry.
See also
- K-LeagueK-LeagueThe Korea Professional Football League is South Korea's only fully professional association football league. At the top of the South Korean football league system, it is the country's highest and most prestigious level of football competition currently contested by 16 clubs.-Establishment:The...
- Korean National League
- Challengers League
- Korean FA CupKorean FA CupThe Korean FA Cup is a national cup knockout competition involving K-League, National League, and various amateur and university-level clubs which is held by KFA....
- K-League CupK-League CupThe K-League Cup or Korean League Cup is a Korean professional football competition.The origin competition is the Professional Football Championship.This tournament played in 1986 can be seen as a forerunner of this competition....
- Korean Super CupKorean Super CupThe Super Cup was a traditional curtain-raiser to the Korean football season since its inception in 1999. Played between the K-League champions and Korean FA Cup holders, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors are the only non-champions to have lifted the Super Cup trophy....
- List of football clubs in South Korea