The K League 2 () is the men's second-highest division of the South Korean football league system. Established in 2013 as K League Challenge, it is contested by 17 professional clubs.
History
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. 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 were placed in a competition for safety with the last-placed club being relegated to the new second division (originally two clubs were going to be relegated but the withdrawal of Sangju Sangmu meant only one would be relegated).
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. However, the change caused some degree of confusion and controversy, and on 11 March 2013 the official name was changed to K League Challenge. On 22 January 2018, its name was once again changed to K League 2.
In the 2014 season, two additional teams were relegated from the K League Classic, reducing the number of participating teams to ten. Furthermore, the promotion-relegation playoff system was expanded. The league champion earned automatic promotion, while the third and fourth-placed teams competed in a playoff. The winner of this match faced the second-placed team, and the victor of this fixture advanced to the promotion-relegation playoff against the 11th-placed team from the K League Classic.
In mid-2016, the city of Ansan announced the formation of a new professional football club, Ansan Greeners FC. The club's foundation involved acquiring the squad of Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Dolphins, a team with seven National League titles, and entering the league from the 2017 season. As a result of this development, Ansan Mugunghwa, which had previously represented Ansan, was dissolved at the conclusion of the 2016 season. Meanwhile, the police football team, which had served as the foundation for Ansan Mugunghwa, reached an agreement with the city of Asan to relocate and rebrand as Asan Mugunghwa.
Competition format
Regular season The regular season consists of 34 rounds. Each team plays a total of 32 matches, playing every other team two times (home and away). As there is an odd number of teams in the league, one team rests each round. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points. If teams are level on points, tie-breakers are applied in the following order:
Total goals scored Goal difference Total wins Head-to-head results Penalty points accrued
The champions and runners-up of K League 2 automatically qualify for K League 1.
Play-offs From the 2026 season onwards, the third, fourth, fifth and sixth-placed teams compete in the promotion play-offs. The winner of the K League 2 promotion play-off gain promotion to K League 1, while the promotion play-off runners-up plays against the twelfth-placed team in K League 1 in the K League promotion-relegation play-offs.
Relegation In the 2026 season, a promotion and relegation system was introduced between K League 2 and K3 League.
Current clubs Club Location Stadium First season Current spell Seasons Ansan Greeners Ansan Ansan Wa~ Stadium 2017 2017– 10 Busan IPark Busan Busan Gudeok Stadium 2016 2021– 10 Cheonan City Cheonan Cheonan Stadium 2023 2023– 4 Chungbuk Cheongju Cheongju Cheongju Sports Complex Stadium 2023 2023– 4 Chungnam Asan Asan Yi Sun-sin Stadium 2020 2020– 7 Daegu FC Daegu Daegu iM Bank Park 2014 2026– 4 Gimhae FC 2008 Gimhae Gimhae Sports Complex 2026 2026– 1 Gimpo FC Gimpo Gimpo Solteo Football Stadium 2022 2022– 5 Gyeongnam FC Changwon Changwon Football Center 2015 2020– 10 Hwaseong FC Hwaseong Hwaseong Stadium 2025 2025– 2 Jeonnam Dragons South Jeolla Gwangyang Football Stadium 2019 2019– 8 Paju Frontier Paju Paju Stadium 2026 2026– 1 Seongnam FC Seongnam Tancheon Stadium 2017 2023– 6 Seoul E-Land Seoul Mokdong Stadium 2015 2015– 12 Suwon FC Suwon Suwon Stadium 2013 2026– 8 Suwon Samsung Bluewings Suwon Suwon World Cup Stadium 2024 2024– 3 Yongin FC Yongin Yongin Mireu Stadium 2026 2026– 1
Champions Champions by season Season Champions Runners-up2013Sangju SangmuKorean Police2014Daejeon CitizenGwangju FC 2015Sangju SangmuSuwon FC2016Ansan MugunghwaDaegu FC2017Gyeongnam FCBusan IPark2018Asan MugunghwaSeongnam FC2019Gwangju FCBusan IPark2020Jeju UnitedSuwon FC2021Gimcheon SangmuDaejeon Hana Citizen2022Gwangju FCDaejeon Hana Citizen2023Gimcheon SangmuBusan IPark2024FC AnyangChungnam Asan2025Incheon UnitedSuwon Samsung Bluewings
Performance by club Club Champions Runners-up Seasons won Seasons runner-upGwangju FC 2019, 2022 2014Sangju Sangmu 2013, 2015 Gimcheon Sangmu 2021, 2023 Daejeon Hana Citizen 2014 2021, 2022Ansan Mugunghwa 2016 2013Gyeongnam FC 2017 Asan Mugunghwa 2018 Jeju SK 2020 FC Anyang 2024 Incheon United 2025 Busan IPark 2017, 2019, 2023Suwon FC 2015, 2020Daegu FC 2016Seongnam FC 2018Chungnam Asan 2024Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2025
See also List of foreign K League 2 players
References
External links Official K League website