The South Korean football champions are the winners of the highest league in South Korean football, which is currently the K League 1.
Since the league turned professional in 1983, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors have won nine titles, the record for most titles won. Seongnam FC have won the league seven times, followed by FC Seoul on six occasions, and Pohang Steelers and Ulsan HD with five titles each. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors are also the only team that won the title for five consecutive seasons.
National Semi-professional League (1964–1982)
Main article: Korean National Semi-Professional Football League- Before a professional football league was founded in South Korea, there was a semi-professional league held twice a year. South Korean companies, banks and militaries' football clubs qualified for the Semi-professional League, but university clubs didn't participate in it unlike the National Football Championship. Instead, they could enter the National University League.
- There is an article about the second round of Autumn season, but no record after that. It might be stopped because of many international football matches.
- Park Byung-chul, Lee Kang-min, and Shin Dong-min became top goalscorers with three goals each, but the award was not presented officially.
- All South Korean sports events were ceased at that time because of president's assassination on 26 October 1979.
K League (1983–2012)
Main article: K League- Professional and semi-professional clubs competed together between 1983 and 1986. Since 1987, only professional clubs competed in the league.
- The league was initially called Super League. It was renamed as Football Festival in 1986, Korean Professional Football League in 1987, Korean League in 1994, Professional Football League in 1996, and K League in 1998.
K League 1 (2013–present)
Main article: K League 1- The K League was split into two divisions in 2013.
- The first division was originally named K League Classic, and was renamed K League 1 in 2018.
| Season | Champions | Runners-up | Most Valuable Player | Top goalscorer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Pohang Steelers (8) | Ulsan Hyundai |  Kim Shin-wook
|
 Dejan Damjanović (19)
|
| 2014 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (3) | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Lee Dong-gook
|
 Júnior Santos (14)
|
| 2015 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (4) | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Lee Dong-gook
|
Kim Shin-wook (18)
|
| 2016 | FC Seoul (6) | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Jung Jo-gook
|
Jung Jo-gook (20)
|
| 2017 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (5) | Jeju United | Lee Jae-sung
|
Johnathan Goiano (22)
|
| 2018 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (6) | Gyeongnam FC | Marcão
|
Marcão (26)
|
| 2019 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (7) | Ulsan Hyundai | Kim Bo-kyung
|
 Adam Taggart (20)
|
| 2020 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (8) | Ulsan Hyundai | Son Jun-ho
|
Júnior Negrão (26)
|
| 2021 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (9) | Ulsan Hyundai | Hong Jeong-ho
|
Joo Min-kyu (22)
|
| 2022 | Ulsan Hyundai (3) | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Lee Chung-yong
|
Cho Gue-sung (17)
|
| 2023 | Ulsan Hyundai (4) | Pohang Steelers | Kim Young-gwon
|
Joo Min-kyu (17)
|
| 2024 | Ulsan HD (5) | Gangwon FC | Jo Hyeon-woo
|
Stefan Mugoša (15)
|
Statistics
All-time (1964–present)
- In South Korea, professional era records are generally accepted.
Titles by club
- Clubs in green background are extant.
- Clubs in bold are competing in the K League.
- The asterisk means co-winners.
| Club | Single league | Spring season | Autumn season | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 9 (2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021) | — | — | 9 |
| Pohang Steelers | 6 (1982, 1986, 1988, 1992, 2007, 2013) | 1 (1975) | 1 (1981) | 8 |
| Seongnam FC | 7 (1993, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006) | — | — | 7 |
| FC Seoul | 6 (1985, 1990, 2000, 2010, 2012, 2016) | — | — | 6 |
| Ulsan HD | 5 (1996, 2005, 2022, 2023, 2024) | — | — | 5 |
| Busan IPark | 4 (1984, 1987, 1991, 1997) | 1 (1981) | — | 5 |
| Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 4 (1998, 1999, 2004, 2008) | — | — | 4 |
| Korea Tungsten | — | 2 (1965*, 1968) | 2 (1965, 1966*) | 4 |
| ROK Army | 1 (1977) | 1 (1980*) | 1 (1974*) | 3 |
| Keumsung Textile | — | 2 (1964*, 1965*) | 1 (1964) | 3 |
| National Police Department | — | 2 (1966, 1967) | 1 (1966*) | 3 |
| Korea Electric Power | — | 2 (1965*, 1969) | 1 (1967) | 3 |
| Cheil Industries | — | 2 (1964*, 1970) | 1 (1968*) | 3 |
| Korea Trust Bank | — | 2 (1971, 1976*) | 1 (1973) | 3 |
| ROK Navy | — | 2 (1973, 1978*) | 1 (1971) | 3 |
| Korea Housing Bank | — | 1 (1972) | 1 (1972) | 2 |
| Chohung Bank | — | 1 (1974) | 1 (1970) | 2 |
| Industrial Bank of Korea | — | 1 (1979) | 1 (1975) | 2 |
| Seoul City | — | 2 (1978*, 1980*) | — | 2 |
| Korea Automobile Insurance | — | — | 2 (1978, 1980*) | 2 |
| Hallelujah FC | 1 (1983) | — | — | 1 |
| Jeju SK | 1 (1989) | — | — | 1 |
| ROK Army Quartermaster Corps | — | — | 1 (1968*) | 1 |
| Commercial Bank of Korea | — | — | 1 (1974) | 1 |
| Korea Exchange Bank | — | 1 (1976*) | — | 1 |
| ROK Air Force | — | — | 1 (1980*) | 1 |
- Including POSCO FC and POSCO Atoms
- Including Ilhwa Chunma and Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
- Including Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso and Anyang LG Cheetahs
- Including Hyundai Horang-i, Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i, and Ulsan Hyundai
- Including Daewoo FC, Daewoo Royals, and Busan Daewoo Royals
- Including Seoul Police Department
- Including ROK Marine Corps
- Including Yukong Elephants
Professional era (1983–present)
Titles by club
Titles won by club (%)
Jeonbuk – 9 (21.4%) Seongnam – 7 (16.7%) Seoul – 6 (14.3%) Ulsan – 5 (11.9%) Pohang – 5 (11.9%) Suwon – 4 (9.5%) Busan – 4 (9.5%) Others – 2 (4.8%)- In accordance with the official K League policy, the current clubs inherit the history and records of the predecessor clubs.
| Club | Champions | Runners-up | Seasons won | Seasons runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 9 | 3 | 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 | 2012, 2016, 2022 |
| Seongnam FC | 7 | 3 | 1993, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006 | 1992, 2007, 2009 |
| FC Seoul | 6 | 5 | 1985, 1990, 2000, 2010, 2012, 2016 | 1986, 1989, 1993, 2001, 2008 |
| Ulsan HD | 5 | 10 | 1996, 2005, 2022, 2023, 2024 | 1988, 1991, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2011, 2013, 2019, 2020, 2021 |
| Pohang Steelers | 5 | 5 | 1986, 1988, 1992, 2007, 2013 | 1985, 1987, 1995, 2004, 2023 |
| Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 4 | 4 | 1998, 1999, 2004, 2008 | 1996, 2006, 2014, 2015 |
| Busan IPark | 4 | 3 | 1984, 1987, 1991, 1997 | 1983, 1990, 1999 |
| Jeju SK | 1 | 5 | 1989 | 1984, 1994, 2000, 2010, 2017 |
| Hallelujah FC | 1 | 0 | 1983 | — |
| Jeonnam Dragons | 0 | 1 | — | 1997 |
| Incheon United | 0 | 1 | — | 2005 |
| Gyeongnam FC | 0 | 1 | — | 2018 |
| Gangwon FC | 0 | 1 | — | 2024 |
- Including Ilhwa Chunma and Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
- Including Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso, LG Cheetahs, and Anyang LG Cheetahs
- Including Hyundai Horang-i, Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i, and Ulsan Hyundai
- Including POSCO Atoms and Pohang Atoms
- Including Daewoo Royals and Busan Daewoo Royals
- Including Yukong Elephants, Bucheon SK and Jeju United
Titles by city/province
- In early years, hometowns of K League clubs were determined, but they were pointless in substance because the clubs played games by going around all stadiums together.
- The current home and away system is being operated since the 1987 season.
| City/Province | Titles | Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| Jeonbuk | 9 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021) |
| Seoul | 7 | FC Seoul (1990, 2010, 2012, 2016) |
| Ilhwa Chunma (1993, 1994, 1995) | ||
| Ulsan | 5 | Ulsan HD (1996, 2005, 2022, 2023, 2024) |
| Pohang | 4 | Pohang Steelers (1988, 1992, 2007, 2013) |
| Suwon | 4 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings (1998, 1999, 2004, 2008) |
| Seongnam | 4 | Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (2001, 2002, 2003, 2006) |
| Busan | 2 | Busan Daewoo Royals (1991, 1997) |
| Busan–Gyeongnam | 1 | Daewoo Royals (1987) |
| Incheon–Gyeonggi | 1 | Yukong Elephants (1989) |
| Anyang | 1 | Anyang LG Cheetahs (2000) |
Titles by region
- In early years, hometowns of K League clubs were determined, but they were pointless in substance because the clubs played games by going around all stadiums together.
- The current home and away system is being operated since 1987 season.
| Region | Titles | City/Province | Clubs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gyeonggi region (Seoul Capital Area) |
17 | Seoul (7) | FC Seoul (1990, 2010, 2012, 2016) |
| Ilhwa Chunma (1993, 1994, 1995) | |||
| Seongnam (4) | Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (2001, 2002, 2003, 2006) | ||
| Suwon (4) | Suwon Samsung Bluewings (1998, 1999, 2004, 2008) | ||
| Anyang (1) | Anyang LG Cheetahs (2000) | ||
| Incheon–Gyeonggi (1) | Yukong Elephants (1989) | ||
| Yeongnam region (Gyeongsang) |
12 | Ulsan (5) | Ulsan HD (1996, 2005, 2022, 2023, 2024) |
| Pohang (4) | Pohang Steelers (1988, 1992, 2007, 2013) | ||
| Busan (2) | Busan Daewoo Royals (1991, 1997) | ||
| Busan–Gyeongnam (1) | Daewoo Royals (1987) | ||
| Honam region (Jeolla) |
9 | Jeonbuk (9) | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021) |
See also
References
- 陸軍,一毛를 零封. Naver.com (in Korean). Kyunghyang. 16 August 1969. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- 11월의 스포츠. Naver.com (in Korean). Kyunghyang. 1 November 1979. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- "The Official K League Annual Report" (in Korean). K League editorial division.
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