K League 1 Guide 2026 Season

K League 1

Hana Bank K League 1 is South Korea's top division, founded in 1983. Twelve clubs play a 33-game regular season, then split into a championship group and a relegation group. Champions and high finishers go to the AFC Champions League or Two. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors won in 2025 (their 10th title, a league record). Ulsan HD won 2022-24. The 2026 season is underway running from February to December with a break in June for the 2026 World Cup; FC Seoul lead the table. K League 2 sits below, with promotion/relegation.

Clubs

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

Record 10-time champions and 2025 title holders; Hyundai-backed "Green Warriors." Jeonbuk Motors play at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju (전주) in Jeolla Province - 42,477 capacity and one of South Korea's best grounds.

Ulsan HD

Three-time defending champions before 2025; HD Hyundai club nicknamed the Tigers. Play at football-specific Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium - 44,102 capacity in Ulsan on the south coast. The stadium (aka Big Crown) is surrounded by Munsu Park with a pleasant lake, fountains and cycling tracks.

FC Seoul

Capital club at Asia's largest regular K League ground; their last title was in 2016 and before that in 2012 and 2010, top of the 2026 table so far. Play at the Seoul World Cup Stadium - 66,704 capacity. The soccer-specific stadium was built for the 2002 World Cup. It is the largest soccer-specific stadium in South Korea and the main venue for the South Korean national team, nicknamed the 'Taegeuk Warriors'.

Pohang Steelers

Founding 1983 club and POSCO steelworks side; the club's last league title was back in 2013, and before that in 2007, three-time ACL winners and have competed at the Club World Cup. Home ground is the 17,443 capacity Pohang Steel Yard, constructed in 1990 as the first football-specific stadium in South Korea.

Jeju SK

Jeju island club dating to 1983 (as Yukong); last title was in 1989. The club play in Seogwipo in the south of Jeju island at the Jeju World Cup Stadium - 29,791 capacity and constructed for the 2002 World Cup.

Daejeon Hana Citizen

Hana Bank-backed "Purples"; 2025 runners-up, still seeking a first K League 1 title. Play at the Daejeon World Cup Stadium in Daejeon in the Chungcheong region - 40,903 capacity.

Gangwon FC

Provincial club from 2009; were 2024 runners-up, home in 2026 only at Gangneung. Gangneung Stadium (known as the Gangneung High1 Arena for sponsorship reasons) - 22,333 capacity.

Gwangju FC

Civic club from 2011; known for youth development and a 2023 ACL run. Play at the 40,245 capacity Gwangju World Cup Stadium in Gwangju. It has two gigantic shell-like curving roofs. 7 km by shuttle from the city center.

Gimcheon Sangmu

Military team of serving conscripts; cannot be relegated in the usual way and cycles players in and out. Sangmu's squad is made up of young South Korean professional footballers completing their compulsory two-year military service. Fifteen players typically join the club at the start of each season, spending two years with the team before returning to their former professional clubs. Play at the multi-use Gimcheon Stadium with a running track - 25,000 capacity.

Incheon United

Back in K League 1 for 2026 as K League 2 champions; play at a football-specific ground, Incheon Football Stadium with a 20,891 capacity. From 2004 to 2011 Incheon United played at the much larger Incheon Munhak Stadium built for World Cup 2002. The port city of Incheon is home to the main airport in the country serving Seoul by high-speed AREX railway. Football was first introduced to Korea in Incheon in 1882 by British sailors.

FC Anyang

Promoted in 2025; the "Violets" from the satellite city of Anyang near Seoul are in their second top-flight season. Home is Anyang Stadium - a 17,143 capacity multi-purpose ground with an athletics track.

Bucheon FC 1995

First K League 1 season after winning the 2025 promotion play-off. The club, which was founded only in 2007 by a group of former Bucheon SK supporters following the club's relocation to Jeju in early 2006, play at Bucheon Stadium - 34,456 capacity, opened in 2001.