K League 2

The K League 2 (Hangul: 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 and K3 League.

K League 2
Organising bodyK League Federation
Founded2013 (2013)
CountrySouth Korea
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams13
Level on pyramid2
Promotion toK League 1
Relegation toK3 League
Domestic cup(s)Korean FA Cup
International cup(s)AFC Champions League (via Korean FA Cup)
Current championsGwangju FC
(2022)
Most championshipsGwangju FC
Sangju Sangmu
(2 titles each)
TV partnersSky Sports (South Korea)
Life & Sports TV
Websitekleague.com
Current: 2023 K League 2

History
Main article: K League

In 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,[5] and on 11 March 2013 the official name was changed to "K League Challenge".[6] On 22 January 2018, its name was once again changed to "K League 2".[7]

In the 2013 season, the 13th and 14th placed teams in the K League Classic were automatically relegated, while the 12th placed team played a match against the winner of the newly-formed K League Challenge to decide promotion/relegation. From the 2014 season, only the 12th team of the top division is automatically relegated, with the 11th team playing a two-leg match against the winner of the K League 2 promotion playoffs to decide promotion/relegation. The promotion playoffs are as follows: the fourth-placed team plays against the third-placed team, then the winner of this match plays with the second-placed team. If the match is tied, the higher-placed team advances.

In 2023, promotion and relegation between K League 2 and the third tier K3 League was introduced.[8]

Current clubs
Club Location Stadium First season Current spell Seasons[lower-alpha 1]
Ansan Greeners Ansan Ansan Wa~ Stadium 2017 2017– 7
FC Anyang Anyang Anyang Stadium 2013 2013– 11
Bucheon FC 1995 Bucheon Bucheon Stadium 2013 2013– 11
Busan IPark Busan Busan Asiad Main Stadium 2016 2021– 7
Cheonan City Cheonan Cheonan Stadium 2023 2023– 1
Chungbuk Cheongju Cheongju Cheongju Sports Complex Stadium 2023 2023– 1
Chungnam Asan Asan Yi Sun-sin Stadium 2020 2020– 4
Gimcheon Sangmu Gimcheon Gimcheon Stadium 2021 2023– 2
Gimpo FC Gimpo Gimpo Solteo Football Stadium 2022 2022– 2
Gyeongnam FC Changwon Changwon Football Center 2015 2020– 7
Jeonnam Dragons South Jeolla Gwangyang Football Stadium 2019 2019– 5
Seongnam FC Seongnam Tancheon Stadium 2017 2023– 3
Seoul E-Land Seoul Mokdong Stadium 2015 2015– 9
Location of the 2023 K League 2 teams
  1. As of the 2023 season.

Champions

By season
Season Champions Runners-up
2013 Sangju Sangmu Police FC
2014 Daejeon Citizen Gwangju FC
2015 Sangju Sangmu Suwon FC
2016 Ansan Mugunghwa Daegu FC
2017 Gyeongnam FC Busan IPark
2018 Asan Mugunghwa Seongnam FC
2019 Gwangju FC Busan IPark
2020 Jeju United Suwon FC
2021 Gimcheon Sangmu Daejeon Hana Citizen
2022 Gwangju FC Daejeon Hana Citizen

By club
Club Champions Runners-up Winning seasons Runners-up seasons
Gwangju FC
2
1
 2019, 2022 2014
Sangju Sangmu
2
0
 2013, 2015 —
Daejeon Hana Citizen
1
2
 2014 2021, 2022
Ansan Mugunghwa[lower-alpha 1]
1
1
 2016 2013
Gyeongnam FC
1
0
 2017 —
Asan Mugunghwa[lower-alpha 1]
1
0
 2018 —
Jeju United
1
0
 2020 —
Gimcheon Sangmu
1
0
 2021 —
Suwon FC
0
2
 — 2015, 2020
Busan IPark
0
2
 — 2017, 2019
Daegu FC
0
1
 — 2016
Seongnam FC
0
1
 — 2018
  1. Ansan Mugunghwa and Asan Mugunghwa are officially two distinct clubs per K League policies.[9]

See also

References
  1. 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)
  2. K리그 31~44라운드, 상주 없이 그대로 진행 (in Korean). Sports Chosun. 14 September 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  3. "K League confirm promotion-relegation system". SportsSpying. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  4. "K League News". K League. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  5. 위원석의 하프타임 'K리그'에 새로운 이름을 붙여주자 (in Korean). Sports Seoul. 19 February 2013. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013.
  6. ‘K리그 챌린지’ 프로축구 2부리그 새 이름으로 이번 주말 스타트! (in Korean). K League. 11 March 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  7. 프로축구연맹, 클래식→K리그1, 챌린지→K리그2 대회명 변경 (in Korean). K League. 22 January 2018.
  8. "K League to add extra promotion-relegation playoff next season". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. 4 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  9. 프로연맹, 신생팀 안산-아산 가입 승인
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