Korea National League
 | |
| Founded |
2003 (1964 as Korea Football League) |
|---|---|
| Country |
 Korea Republic |
| Confederation | AFC (Asia) |
| Number of teams | 10 |
| Level on pyramid | 3 |
| Domestic cup(s) | Korean FA Cup |
| League cup(s) | Korea National League Championship |
| Current champions |
Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin (2016) |
| Most championships | Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin (7 titles) |
| Website | http://www.n-league.net |
 2017 Korea National League | |
| Korea National League | |
| Hangul | 내셔널리그 |
|---|---|
| Revised Romanization | Naesyeneol rigeu |
| McCune–Reischauer | Naesyŏnŏl rigŭ |
The Korea National League is an association football league, the third tier of the South Korean football league system. It consists of 10 clubs. The league is considered a semi-professional league, but every player in the National League is a full-time professional footballer.
History
The league was officially founded in 2003 as the K2 League to raise the level of competition in Korea. Prior to that, various cup competitions were run by the governing body of semi-professional football. Competitions under the present body can be traced back to 1964, with the participants being mostly work sides of the major industries in Korea (banks, construction companies and the like). It was rebranded as the Korea National League at the beginning of 2006.
It had operated with a two-stage season since its inception, with the two-stage winners meeting in a two-legged championship playoff final at the end of the season before changing to a four team playoff in 2008. Kookmin Bank won the 2003 championship, and successfully defended their title in 2004. Incheon Korail claimed the title in 2005 before Kookmin Bank won it for a third time in 2006. Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin won the championship in 2007.
On December 18, 2009, Mokpo City Government FC & Yongin City Government FC were approved to join the league beginning with the 2010 season.
Promotion issue
Ever since the creation of the league, hopes had been high that a system of promotion and relegation would be implemented between the league and the K League, the professional football league in Korea. In 2006, it was agreed that, subject to meeting certain financial requirements, the National League champions would be eligible for promotion. Goyang KB Kookmin Bank, who triumphed over Gimpo Hallelujah to win the 2006 title, were the first side eligible for promotion; however, they controversially rejected the chance to return to the professional ranks.
The team received several threats from the National League ranging from being thrown out of the competition, to fines, to point deductions for the upcoming 2007 season. In the end, the side received a point deduction penalty, to be split into ten point deductions in the first and second stages of the 2007 season.
Following the case involving Goyang, teams in the National League signed agreements indicating whether or not they would seek promotion to the K-League if they won the National League in 2007. Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin, who won the championship in 2007, also rejected the chance to move up to the K-League despite previously indicating they would seek promotion.
In light of the issues surrounding the conditional promotion place in 2006 and 2007, the National League decided to end the system prior to the 2008 season.
On November 2, 2009, the new commissioner, Kwon Oh-Gab, announced that he would push the implementation of a promotion system with the K League within 3 years.
2016 season
The following 10 clubs compete in the Korea National League during the 2016 season:
- Busan Transportation Corporation FC
- Changwon FC
- Cheonan City FC
- Daejeon Korail FC
- Gangneung City FC
- Gimhae FC
- Gyeongju Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power FC
- Mokpo City FC
- Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Dolphin
- Yongin City FC
Stadiums (2016)
Primary venues used in the Korea National League:
| Busan Transportation Corporation | Changwon FC | Cheonan City | Daejeon Korail | Gangneung FC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Busan Gudeok Stadium | Changwon Football Center | Cheonan Football Center | Daejeon Hanbat Stadium | Gangneung Stadium |
| Capacity: 30,000 | Capacity: 15,500 | Capacity: 2,881 | Capacity: 17,371 | Capacity: 22,333 |
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| Gimhae FC | Gyeongju KHNP | Mokpo City | Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin | Yongin City |
| Gimhae Stadium | Gyeongju Civic Stadium | Mokpo International Football Center | Ulsan Stadium | Yongin Football Center |
| Capacity: 30,000 | Capacity: 12,199 | Capacity: 5,952 | Capacity: 19,665 | Capacity: 12,000 |
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All-time Member Clubs
There have been a total of 16 member clubs since the league was founded as the K2 League in 2003. Seoul replaced Hallelujah for the second stage of the 2003 season after protests by radical Wonbuddhists forced the Christian club out of Iksan. Hallelujah returned to the league in 2004 after moving to Gimpo. Sangmu B withdrew their team from the league at the end of 2005 in order for the team, essentially the reserve side of K-League team Gwangju Sangmu Bulsajo, to compete in the K-League Reserves League. In the 2010 season, Nowon Hummel FC moved to Chungju city in Chungbuk province, and the club's name changed to Chungju Hummel FC.
Teams are listed with present-day names in the case of sides that have changed names or locations previously:
| Club | Duration | City |
|---|---|---|
| Ansan H FC | 2003 First Stage, 2004–2012 | Ansan, Gyeonggi |
| Gyeongju Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power FC | 2003–Present | Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk |
| Gangneung City FC | 2003–Present | Gangneung, Gangwon |
| Goyang KB Kookmin Bank FC | 2003–2012 | Goyang, Gyeonggi |
| Daejeon Korail FC | 2003–Present | Daejeon Metropolitan City |
| Chungju Hummel FC | 2003–2012 | Chungju, Chungbuk |
| Sangmu B | 2003–2005 | Icheon, Gyeonggi |
| Suwon City | 2003–2012 | Suwon, Gyeonggi |
| Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin | 2003–Present | Ulsan Metropolitan City |
| Yesan FC | 2003–2010 | Yesan, Chungnam |
| Seoul FC | 2003 Second Stage | Seoul Metropolitan City |
| Changwon FC | 2005–Present | Changwon, Gyeongnam |
| Busan Transportation Corporation FC | 2006–Present | Busan Metropolitan City |
| Hongcheon Idu FC | 2007–09 First Stage | Hongcheon, Gangwon |
| Cheonan City FC | 2008–Present | Cheonan, Chungnam |
| Gimhae FC | 2008–Present | Gimhae, Gyeongnam |
| Mokpo City FC | 2010–Present | Mokpo, Jeonnam |
| Yongin City FC | 2010–Present | Yongin, Gyeonggi |
Defunct former clubs
- Seoul FC (2003 Second Stage)
- Sangmu B (2003–2005)
- Hongcheon Idu FC (2007–09 First Stage)
- Yesan FC (2003–2010)
Previous winners
- For winners in years up to and including 2002, please refer to the Korean National Semi-Professional Football League.
Titles By Season
Titles By Club
| |
Winners | Runner-up |
| Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin | 7 (2007, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016) | |
| Goyang KB | 3 (2003, 2004, 2006) | 2 (2011, 2012) |
| Daejeon Korail | 2 (2005, 2012) | 1 (2014) |
| Suwon City | 1 (2010) | 3 (2005, 2007, 2008) |
| Gangneung City | 1 (2009) | 2 (2004, 2016) |
| Gyeongju KHNP | 3 (2010, 2013, 2015) | |
| Sangmu B | 1 (2003) | |
| Ansan H FC | 1 (2006) | |
| Gimhae City | 1 (2009) |
Notable players
Sangmu players
- Cho Jae-Jin
- Cho Won-Hee
- Kim Sang-Rok
- Kim Sang-Sik
- Kim Young-chul
- Kwon Jung-Hyuk
- Lee Dong-Gook
- Park Ho-Jin
- Park Jong-Woo
- Park Sung Bae
- Seo Deok-Kyu
- Seo Dong-Won
- Sim Jae-Won
Other players
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Crest
2003–2009- 2010–present
Sponsors
See also
External links
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