The South Korean football champions are the winners of the highest league in South Korean football. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors have won ten titles, the record for most titles won.
History
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 National Semi-professional League, but university clubs could not participate at it unlike at the National Football Championship. Instead, they could enter the National University League.
The K League was founded as a professional league with the name of "Super League" in 1983. It was contested between both professional and semi-professional clubs until 1986, and started to accept only professional clubs in 1987. It was renamed as "Football Festival" in 1986, "Korean Professional Football League" in 1987, "Korean League" in 1994, "Professional Football League" in 1996, and current name "K League" in 1998.
The K League was split into two divisions in 2013. The first division was originally named "K League Classic" before being renamed "K League 1" in 2018.
Champions by season
Season Competition Champions Runners-up 1964 Spring National Semipro LeagueKeumsung Textile (1)Cheil Industries (1)— Autumn National Semipro LeagueKeumsung Textile (2)Korea Tungsten 1965 Spring National Semipro LeagueKeumsung Textile (3)Korea Tungsten (1)Korea Electric Power (1)— Autumn National Semipro LeagueKorea Tungsten (2)Korea Coal Corporation 1966 Spring National Semipro LeagueSeoul Police Department (1)Korea Electric Power Autumn National Semipro LeagueKorea Tungsten (3)Seoul Police Department (2)— 1967 Spring National Semipro LeagueNational Police Department (3)Ssangyong Cement Autumn National Semipro LeagueKorea Electric Power (2)Cheil Industries 1968 Spring National Semipro LeagueKorea Tungsten (4)Korea Electric Power Autumn National Semipro LeagueCheil Industries (2)ROK Army Quartermaster Corps (1)— 1969 Spring National Semipro LeagueKorea Electric Power (3)Korea Tungsten Autumn National Semipro LeagueUnknown 1970 Spring National Semipro LeagueCheil Industries (3)Korea Tungsten Autumn National Semipro League Chohung Bank (1) Korea Trust Bank 1971 Spring National Semipro League Korea Trust Bank (1)Korea Exchange BankKorea Housing Bank Autumn National Semipro LeagueROK Marine Corps (1) Korea Trust BankChohung Bank 1972 Spring National Semipro LeagueKorea Housing Bank (1)ROK Marine Corps Autumn National Semipro LeagueKorea Housing Bank (2)ROK Marine Corps 1973 Spring National Semipro LeagueROK Marine Corps (2)Kookmin Bank Autumn National Semipro League Korea Trust Bank (2)ROK Army 1974 Spring National Semipro LeagueChohung Bank (2)ROK Army Autumn National Semipro LeagueCommercial Bank of Korea (1)ROK Army (1)— 1975 Spring National Semipro LeaguePOSCO FC (1)ROK Army Autumn National Semipro LeagueIndustrial Bank of Korea (1)Korea Automobile Insurance 1976 Spring National Semipro LeagueKorea Exchange Bank (1)Korea Trust Bank (3)— National Semipro LeagueROK Army (2)POSCO FC 1978 Spring National Semipro LeagueSeoul City (1)ROK Navy (3)— Autumn National Semipro LeagueKorea Automobile Insurance (1)Seoul City 1979 Spring National Semipro LeagueIndustrial Bank of Korea (2)ROK Army 1980 Spring National Semipro LeagueSeoul City (2)ROK Army (3)— Autumn National Semipro LeagueKorea Automobile Insurance (2)ROK Air Force (1)— 1981 Spring National Semipro LeagueDaewoo FC (1)ROK Navy Autumn National Semipro LeaguePOSCO FC (2)ROK Army National Semipro League (Korean League)POSCO FC (3)Kookmin BankK League (Super League)Hallelujah FC (1)Daewoo RoyalsK League (Super League)Daewoo Royals (2)Yukong ElephantsK League (Super League)Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso (1)POSCO AtomsK League (Football Festival)POSCO Atoms (4)Lucky-Goldstar HwangsoK League (Korean Professional Football)Daewoo Royals (3)POSCO AtomsK League (Korean Professional Football)POSCO Atoms (5)Hyundai Horang-iK League (Korean Professional Football)Yukong Elephants (1)Lucky-Goldstar HwangsoK League (Korean Professional Football)Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso (2)Daewoo RoyalsK League (Korean Professional Football)Daewoo Royals (4)Hyundai Horang-iK League (Korean Professional Football)POSCO Atoms (6)Ilhwa ChunmaK League (Korean Professional Football)Ilhwa Chunma (1)LG CheetahsK League (Korean League)Ilhwa Chunma (2)Yukong ElephantsK League (Korean League)Ilhwa Chunma (3)Pohang AtomsK League (Professional Football)Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i (1)Suwon Samsung BluewingsK League (Professional Football)Busan Daewoo Royals (5)Jeonnam DragonsK LeagueSuwon Samsung Bluewings (1)Ulsan Hyundai Horang-iK LeagueSuwon Samsung Bluewings (2)Busan Daewoo RoyalsK LeagueAnyang LG Cheetahs (3)Bucheon SKK LeagueSeongnam Ilhwa Chunma (4)Anyang LG CheetahsK LeagueSeongnam Ilhwa Chunma (5)Ulsan Hyundai Horang-iK LeagueSeongnam Ilhwa Chunma (6)Ulsan Hyundai Horang-iK LeagueSuwon Samsung Bluewings (3)Pohang SteelersK LeagueUlsan Hyundai Horang-i (2)Incheon UnitedK LeagueSeongnam Ilhwa Chunma (7)Suwon Samsung BluewingsK LeaguePohang Steelers (7)Seongnam Ilhwa ChunmaK LeagueSuwon Samsung Bluewings (4)FC SeoulK LeagueJeonbuk Hyundai Motors (1)Seongnam Ilhwa ChunmaK LeagueFC Seoul (4)Jeju UnitedK LeagueJeonbuk Hyundai Motors (2)Ulsan HyundaiK LeagueFC Seoul (5)Jeonbuk Hyundai MotorsK League 1 (K League Classic)Pohang Steelers (8)Ulsan HyundaiK League 1 (K League Classic)Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (3)Suwon Samsung BluewingsK League 1 (K League Classic)Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (4)Suwon Samsung BluewingsK League 1 (K League Classic)FC Seoul (6)Jeonbuk Hyundai MotorsK League 1 (K League Classic)Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (5)Jeju UnitedK League 1Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (6)Gyeongnam FCK League 1Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (7)Ulsan HyundaiK League 1Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (8)Ulsan HyundaiK League 1Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (9)Ulsan HyundaiK League 1Ulsan Hyundai (3)Jeonbuk Hyundai MotorsK League 1Ulsan Hyundai (4)Pohang SteelersK League 1Ulsan HD (5)Gangwon FCK League 1Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (10)Daejeon Hana Citizen
Statistics All-time (since 1964) Titles by club In South Korea, professional era records are generally accepted.
ClubChampionsRunners-upSeasons wonJeonbuk Hyundai Motors10 32009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2025Pohang Steelers861975, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1992, 2007, 2013Seongnam FC731993, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006FC Seoul651985, 1990, 2000, 2010, 2012, 2016Ulsan HD5101996, 2005, 2022, 2023, 2024Busan Daewoo Royals531981, 1984, 1987, 1991, 1997Suwon Samsung Bluewings441998, 1999, 2004, 2008 Korea Tungsten431965 (2), 1966, 1968 ROK Army351974, 1977, 1980 ROK Navy331971, 1973, 1978Korea Electric Power321965, 1967, 1969 Korea Trust Bank321971, 1973, 1976Cheil Industries311964, 1968, 1970Keumsung Textile301964 (2), 1965National Police Department301966 (2), 1967 Korea Housing Bank211972 (2) Chohung Bank211970, 1974 Seoul City211978, 1980 Korea Automobile Insurance211978, 1980 Industrial Bank of Korea201975, 1979Jeju United151989 Korea Exchange Bank111976 ROK Army Quartermaster Corps101968 Commercial Bank of Korea101974 ROK Air Force101980Hallelujah FC101983
Professional era (since 1983) Titles by club
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 wonJeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2025Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 1993, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006FC Seoul 1985, 1990, 2000, 2010, 2012, 2016Ulsan HD 1996, 2005, 2022, 2023, 2024Pohang Steelers 1986, 1988, 1992, 2007, 2013Suwon Samsung Bluewings 1998, 1999, 2004, 2008Busan Daewoo Royals 1984, 1987, 1991, 1997Jeju United 1989Hallelujah FC 1983
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 has been in use since the 1987 season.
City/Province Titles Clubs Seasons won Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 10 (2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2025) Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso 1 (1990) FC Seoul 3 (2010, 2012, 2016) Ilhwa Chunma 3 (1993, 1994, 1995) Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i 2 (1996, 2005) Ulsan Hyundai 2 (2022, 2023) Ulsan HD 1 (2024) POSCO Atoms 2 (1988, 1992) Pohang Steelers 2 (2007, 2013) 4 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 4 (1998, 1999, 2004, 2008) 4 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 4 (2001, 2002, 2003, 2006) Daewoo Royals 1 (1991) Busan Daewoo Royals 1 (1997) 1 Daewoo Royals 1 (1987) 1 Yukong Elephants 1 (1989) 1 Anyang LG Cheetahs 1 (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 has been in use since the 1987 season.
Region Titles Cities/Provinces Titles Gyeonggi region(Seoul metropolitan area) 17 Seoul 7 Seongnam 4 Suwon 4 Anyang 1 Incheon–Gyeonggi 1 Yeongnam region(Gyeongsang) 12 Ulsan 5 Pohang 4 Busan 2 Busan–Gyeongnam 1 Honam region(Jeolla) 10 Jeonbuk 10
See also Football in South Korea South Korean football league system List of Korea Cup winners
References