K League Championship


The K League Championship was the final competition of the K League season. The K League originally had play-offs after regular seasons, but the name of play-offs was officially decided in 2009. This competition was abolished in 2011.
All K League Championship records from 1984 to 1996 are not included in the current K League official statistics.

Summary

Champions
Runners-up

Final

The winners of two regular stages in four early editions qualified for the two-legged final.
No.SeasonFirst stage winnersSecond stage winners
11984Yukong ElephantsDaewoo Royals
21986POSCO AtomsLucky-Goldstar Hwangso
31995Ilhwa ChunmaPohang Atoms
41996Ulsan Hyundai Horang-iSuwon Samsung Bluewings

Play-offs of the top four (1998–2000)

The top four clubs of the regular league qualified for the championship from 1998 to 2000. The first round was played as a single match, and the semi-final was a two-legged tie. The final also consisted of two matches in 1998, but it changed to best-of-three the next year.
No.SeasonRegular first placeRegular second placeRegular third placeRegular fourth place
51998Suwon Samsung BluewingsUlsan Hyundai Horang-iPohang SteelersJeonnam Dragons
61999Suwon Samsung BluewingsBucheon SKJeonnam DragonsBusan Daewoo Royals
72000Anyang LG CheetahsSeongnam Ilhwa ChunmaJeonbuk Hyundai MotorsBucheon SK

Play-offs of the top four (2004–2006)

When the regular league was split into two stages again from 2004 to 2006, the top two clubs in the overall table qualified for the championship in addition to two winners. Each semi-final was a single match, and the final comprised two matches.

Play-offs of the top six

The K League Championship increased participating clubs to six since 2007. The winners of regular league directly qualified for the final, and the second-placed team qualified for the semi-final. The other four clubs entered the first round, and the winners of the second round advanced to the semi-final. Each match was played as a single match, excluding the two-legged final.
No.SeasonRegular first placeRegular second placeRegular third placeRegular fourth placeRegular fifth placeRegular sixth place
112007Seongnam Ilhwa ChunmaSuwon Samsung BluewingsUlsan Hyundai Horang-iGyeongnam FCPohang SteelersDaejeon Citizen
122008Suwon Samsung BluewingsFC SeoulSeongnam Ilhwa ChunmaUlsan HyundaiPohang SteelersJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
132009Jeonbuk Hyundai MotorsPohang SteelersFC SeoulSeongnam Ilhwa ChunmaIncheon UnitedJeonnam Dragons
142010FC SeoulJeju UnitedJeonbuk Hyundai MotorsUlsan HyundaiSeongnam Ilhwa ChunmaGyeongnam FC
152011Jeonbuk Hyundai MotorsPohang SteelersFC SeoulSuwon Samsung BluewingsBusan IParkUlsan Hyundai

Finals

Numbers in are the numbers of victories, and are not aggregate scores.
No.SeasonChampionsAgg.Runners-up1st leg2nd leg3rd leg
11984Daewoo Royals2–1Yukong Elephants1–01–1—
21986POSCO Atoms2–1Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso1–01–1—
31995Ilhwa Chunma5–4Pohang Atoms1–13–31–0
41996Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i3–2Suwon Samsung Bluewings0–13–1—
51998Suwon Samsung Bluewings1–0Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i1–00–0—
61999Suwon Samsung Bluewings2–0Busan Daewoo Royals2–12–1 Not held
72000Anyang LG Cheetahs2–0Bucheon SK4–11–1 Not held
82004Suwon Samsung Bluewings0–0 Pohang Steelers0–00–0 —
92005Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i6–3Incheon United5–11–2—
102006Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma3–1Suwon Samsung Bluewings1–02–1—
112007Pohang Steelers4–1Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma3–11–0—
122008Suwon Samsung Bluewings3–2FC Seoul1–12–1—
132009Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors3–1Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma0–03–1—
142010FC Seoul4–3Jeju United2–22–1—
152011Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors4–2Ulsan Hyundai2–12–1—

Appearances

By club

ClubAppearances
Pohang Steelers9
Seongnam FC8
Suwon Samsung Bluewings8
Ulsan Hyundai8
FC Seoul7
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors5
Jeju United4
Jeonnam Dragons4
Busan IPark4
Incheon United2
Gyeongnam FC2
Daejeon Citizen1

By city/province

City/ProvinceAppsClubs
Pohang8Pohang Atoms, Pohang Steelers
Suwon8Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Ulsan8Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i, Ulsan Hyundai
Seongnam7Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
Seoul6Ilhwa Chunma
Seoul6FC Seoul
Jeonnam4Jeonnam Dragons
Jeonbuk5Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Busan3Busan Daewoo Royals, Busan IPark
Bucheon2Bucheon SK
Incheon2Incheon United
Gyeongnam2Gyeongnam FC
Anyang1Anyang LG Cheetahs
Daejeon1Daejeon Citizen
Jeju1Jeju United

By region

  • K League introduced home and away system in 1987.
RegionAppsCity/ProvinceClubs
Gyeonggi region
26Suwon Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Gyeonggi region
26Seongnam Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
Gyeonggi region
26Seoul Ilhwa Chunma
Gyeonggi region
26Seoul FC Seoul
Gyeonggi region
26Bucheon Bucheon SK
Gyeonggi region
26Incheon Incheon United
Gyeonggi region
26Anyang Anyang LG Cheetahs
Yeongnam region
21Pohang Pohang Atoms, Pohang Steelers
Yeongnam region
21Ulsan Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i, Ulsan Hyundai
Yeongnam region
21Busan Busan Daewoo Royals, Busan IPark
Yeongnam region
21Gyeongnam Gyeongnam FC
Honam region
9Jeonbuk Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Honam region
9Jeonnam Jeonnam Dragons
Hoseo region
 1Daejeon Daejeon Citizen
1Jeju Jeju United