The K League 2 (Korean: K리그2) is the men's second-highest division of the South Korean football league system. It is contested between thirteen professional clubs and operates on a promotion and relegation system with K League 1.
 | |
| Organising body | K League Federation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2013 |
| Country | South Korea |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of clubs | 14 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | K League 1 |
| Domestic cup(s) | Korean FA Cup |
| Current champions | FC Anyang (1st title) (2024) |
| Most championships | Gwangju FC Sangju Sangmu Gimcheon Sangmu (2 titles each) |
| TV partners | Sky Sports (South Korea) Life & Sports TV |
| Website | kleague.com |
| Current: 2025 K League 2 | |
History
editIn 2011, the original K League announced a plan to begin a promotion and relegation system between the K League and a proposed second division.[1] The K League then took steps to create the new second division, mainly with the addition of a split-system during the 2012 K-League season in which the bottom clubs are placed in a competition for safety with the last placed club being relegated to the new second division (originally it was going to be two clubs relegated but the withdrawal of Sangju Sangmu meant only one would be relegated).[2][3]
The second division was going to get the name of K League, and the original K League's name was changed to K League Classic along with the new logo.[4] However, the change caused some degree of confusion and controversy, and on 11 March 2013 the official name was changed to K League Challenge.[5][6] On 22 January 2018, its name was once again changed to K League 2.[7]
Competition format
editRegular season
editThe regular season consists of 39 rounds. Each team plays a total of 36 games, playing each other three times in a triple round-robin tournament. As there is an odd number of teams in the league, one team rests each round. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points. In the case that teams are level on points, tie-breakers are applied in the following order:
- Total goals scored
- Goal difference
- Total wins
- Head-to-head results
- Penalty points accrued
The K League 2 champions gain automatic promotion to K League 1.[8]
Play-offs
editThe K League 2 runners-up play against the eleventh-placed team in K League 1 in the first of two promotion-relegation play-offs. The fourth and fifth-placed teams in K League 2 play against each other in the first round of the K League 2 play-offs, with the winner facing the third-placed team in the second round. The winner of the K League 2 play-offs plays against the tenth-placed team in K League 1 in the second promotion-relegation play-off.[8]
Current clubs
edit| Club | Location | Stadium | First season | Current spell | Seasons[a] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ansan Greeners | Ansan | Ansan Wa~ Stadium | 2017 | 2017– | 9 |
| Bucheon FC 1995 | Bucheon | Bucheon Stadium | 2013 | 2013– | 13 |
| Busan IPark | Busan | Busan Asiad Main Stadium | 2016 | 2021– | 9 |
| Cheonan City | Cheonan | Cheonan Stadium | 2023 | 2023– | 3 |
| Chungbuk Cheongju | Cheongju | Cheongju Sports Complex Stadium | 2023 | 2023– | 3 |
| Chungnam Asan | Asan | Yi Sun-sin Stadium | 2020 | 2020– | 6 |
| Gimpo FC | Gimpo | Gimpo Solteo Football Stadium | 2022 | 2022– | 4 |
| Gyeongnam FC | Changwon | Changwon Football Center | 2015 | 2020– | 9 |
| Hwaseong FC | Hwaseong | Hwaseong Stadium | 2025 | 2025– | 1 |
| Incheon United | Incheon | Incheon Football Stadium | 2025 | 2025– | 1 |
| Jeonnam Dragons | South Jeolla | Gwangyang Football Stadium | 2019 | 2019– | 7 |
| Seongnam FC | Seongnam | Tancheon Stadium | 2017 | 2023– | 5 |
| Seoul E-Land | Seoul | Mokdong Stadium | 2015 | 2015– | 11 |
| Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Suwon | Suwon World Cup Stadium | 2024 | 2024– | 2 |
- ^ As of the 2025 season.
Champions
editChampions by season
editPerformance by club
edit| Club | Champions | Runners-up | Seasons won | Seasons runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gwangju FC | 2
|
1
|
2019, 2022 | 2014 |
| Sangju Sangmu | 2
|
0
|
2013, 2015 | — |
| Gimcheon Sangmu | 2
|
0
|
2021, 2023 | — |
| Daejeon Hana Citizen | 1
|
2
|
2014 | 2021, 2022 |
| Ansan Mugunghwa[a] | 1
|
1
|
2016 | 2013 |
| Gyeongnam FC | 1
|
0
|
2017 | — |
| Asan Mugunghwa[a] | 1
|
0
|
2018 | — |
| Jeju United | 1
|
0
|
2020 | — |
| FC Anyang | 1
|
0
|
2024 | — |
| Busan IPark | 0
|
3
|
— | 2017, 2019, 2023 |
| Suwon FC | 0
|
2
|
— | 2015, 2020 |
| Daegu FC | 0
|
1
|
— | 2016 |
| Seongnam FC | 0
|
1
|
— | 2018 |
| Chungnam Asan | 0
|
1
|
— | 2024 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Richards, Dave. "Korea, England: closer football ties". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ K리그 31~44라운드, 상주 없이 그대로 진행 (in Korean). Sports Chosun. 14 September 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
- ^ "K League confirm promotion-relegation system". SportsSpying. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
- ^ "K League News". K League. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
- ^ 위원석의 하프타임 'K리그'에 새로운 이름을 붙여주자 (in Korean). Sports Seoul. 19 February 2013. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013.
- ^ ‘K리그 챌린지’ 프로축구 2부리그 새 이름으로 이번 주말 스타트! (in Korean). K League. 11 March 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
- ^ 프로축구연맹, 클래식→K리그1, 챌린지→K리그2 대회명 변경 (in Korean). K League. 22 January 2018.
- ^ a b "하나원큐 K리그2 2024 대회요강" [Hana 1Q K League 2 2024 Tournament Guide] (in Korean). K League. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ 프로연맹, 신생팀 안산-아산 가입 승인