Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (), commonly known as Jeonbuk (전북), is a South Korean professional football club based in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province that competes in the K League 1, the top tier of South Korean football. Jeonbuk have won the K League a record ten times, including five consecutive titles between 2017 and 2021, and the Korea Cup six times, which is also a joint-record. At international level, the club have won the AFC Champions League twice, in 2006 and 2016. Jeonbuk have also made two appearances in the FIFA Club World Cup, most recently in the 2016 edition. The club's home ground is the Jeonju World Cup Stadium.
History
Beginnings Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors' predecessor was founded in January 1993 under the name Wansan Pumas. Oh Hyung-keun was the founder of the team, the first to be named after its home location in K League history. However, they failed to raise enough funds and the club went bankrupt before they could take their place in the K League. Many people wanted to keep the club and Bobae Ltd., a local alcohol producer, offered financial support to the club. In 1994, they joined the K League after renaming as Chonbuk Buffalo, but ran into financial problems and were dissolved after the final match of the 1994 season.
In 1994, South Korea was in the campaign to host the 2002 FIFA World Cup, so Hyundai Motors, who was in the process of building Hyundai Jeonju Plant, took over the Buffaloes' players and formed a new club called Chonbuk Dinos on 12 December 1994. The K League's official policy is that Chonbuk Buffalo and Chonbuk Dinos (later renaming as Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors) are two different clubs.
Domination in K League and success in Asia (2005–2021) Since 1994, Jeonbuk had not seriously challenged for the K League title, often languishing in mid-table. After Choi Kang-hee was appointed manager in July 2005, Jeonbuk won the Korean FA Cup in December of that year. In 2006, Jeonbuk finished a disappointing eleventh in the K League, however, they won their first AFC Champions League title. En route to the final, they defeated the Japanese champions, Gamba Osaka, and China's Shanghai Shenhua, as well as Ulsan Horang-i, the South Korean champions, in the semi-finals. They then triumphed 3–2 on aggregate over Al-Karamah, the champions of Syria, in the final.
As AFC Champions League winners, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors qualified for the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup. They lost their first game 1–0 to América in the quarter-finals on 10 December, however, they defeated Auckland City 3–0 on 14 December and finished fifth in the tournament. In 2009, Jeonbuk became the Korean champions for the first time after beating Seongnam Ilhwa 3–1 on aggregate in the K League Championship. They repeated the feat in 2011 and won their second domestic title after defeating Ulsan Hyundai 4–2 in the final. The same year, they also reached the AFC Champions League final, where they lost to Al-Sadd after a penalty shoot-out.
With significant investment from its parent company, Jeonbuk completed its state of the art Yulsori Clubhouse (club training center) in nearby Wanju County in 2013. Hyundai's generous support and Choi Kang-hee's aggressive play style led to the club dominating the K League for the next several years, with the club winning the 2014 and 2015 titles.
2016 was a tumultuous year for Jeonbuk. The club won their second AFC Champions League title after defeating Al-Ain 3–2 on aggregate, but the team came under fire in the domestic front for allegedly bribing referees through a scout. The club was fined and had nine points deducted from their 2016 league campaign, resulting in rivals FC Seoul claiming the title. Despite being champions of Asia, the club's participation in the 2017 AFC Champions League was revoked due to this incident.
The club continued to enjoy success in the K League, securing the next five consecutive titles. Additionally, they won the 2020 Korean FA Cup, defeating rising rivals Ulsan over two legs to mark their first-ever domestic double.
Decline (2022–2024) The 2022 season marked the beginning of Jeonbuk's decline, dramatically losing the title to now chief rivals Ulsan by three points. The club, however, won the 2022 Korean FA Cup. The following year led to even poorer results, with the club finishing fourth in the 2023 season, their lowest league finish since 2008. Jeonbuk also failed to win a second consecutive FA Cup, being defeated by Pohang Steelers in the 2023 final. The fourth-place finish and failure to win the FA Cup meant the club was unable to participate in the rebranded 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite.
Jeonbuk's decline escalated in the 2024 season, with the club finishing tenth and flirting with relegation for the first time in its history. The club narrowly avoided relegation to K League 2 by defeating Seoul E-Land in the promotion-relegation play-offs.
Return to power (2025–present) In December 2024, Jeonbuk appointed Uruguayan manager Gus Poyet in a bid to achieve its former glory. In the club's first competitive match under Poyet, they defeated Thai side Port FC 4–0 away in the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two, including two goals by new signing Andrea Compagno.
Under Poyet's leadership, Jeonbuk decisively won the 2025 K League 1 with five games to spare to clinch their record-extending tenth title and the first since 2021. During the season, they went on a 22-match undefeated streak, which is tied for the third-longest run in K League history. Jeonbuk also won the 2025 Korea Cup after defeating Gwangju FC in the final, securing their second double and first since 2020. However, two days after the final, Poyet stepped down as manager after his assistant Mauricio Taricco received a suspension.
Jeonbuk won its first trophy under new manager Chung Jung-yong when it defeated Daejeon Hana Citizen in the 2026 K League Super Cup, which was held for the first time since 2006.
Supporters and rivalries
Supporters
Jeonbuk is the most popular football team and the second most popular sports team in South Korea behind only Kia Tigers of the KBO League. The club draws over two million supporters from all over the country and particularly from the Honam region. It has almost half a million followers on TikTok, boosted by the international popularity of former player Cho Gue-sung, who scored a brace in South Korea's group stage match versus Ghana in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The club's main supporters group is called the Mad Green Boys, who sit at the North Stand of their stadium. Rivalries Seoul Metropolitan Area clubs Jeonbuk shares strong rivalries with FC Seoul (Jeonseol Match) and Suwon Samsung Bluewings (Gongseongjeon), the two most popular football clubs of the Seoul Metropolitan Area. The three-way rivalry these teams share represent the business rivalry between their parent companies Hyundai, LG, and Samsung–three of the largest business conglomerates in South Korea. Their rivalry was the most intense in the 2010s, when Jeonbuk came to dominate the K League while Seoul and Suwon declined.
Jeonbuk supporters set a team record of over 7,600 away fans at a league match against Seoul on 3 May 2025, highlighting their rivalry.
Hyundai Derby Since the late 2010s, Jeonbuk's biggest league rival came to be Ulsan HD. Ulsan became the main club to challenge Jeonbuk's domestic dominance, finally breaking the club's five-year title winning streak in 2022. The matches between the two giants, now seen as the biggest derby in the country, continue to be very consequential for both clubs. In 2025, all 32,560 available seats of the Jeonju World Cup Stadium sold out for the first time in the club's history for their fixture against Ulsan, which Jeonbuk won 3–1.
Although the parent companies of the two clubs share the Hyundai name, they are legally separate business entities.
International In the 2010s, Jeonbuk developed an intense international rivalry with Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande from frequently playing each other in the AFC Champions League. The two teams were the dominant sides of their respective leagues and their most frequent representatives on the continental stage. Several South Korean players and staff members were instrumental to Guangzhou's victories over Jeonbuk and in Asia, as the club and other Chinese Super League teams used their large financial backing to attract South Korean talent.
Guangzhou disbanded in 2025, making the rivalry defunct.
Stadium
Jeonbuk has played its home games at the Jeonju World Cup Stadium since 2002, after the stadium was completed the year before. It has a capacity of 34,207 seats. Their previous home ground was the Jeonju Sports Complex Stadium. The club's reserve team, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors N, plays at the Wanju Public Stadium in nearby Wanju County.Jeonbuk owns one of the most modern club training facilities in Asia: the Yulsori Clubhouse in Bongdong-eup, Wanju. The state-of-the-art training center, modeled after the training facilities of top European clubs, includes a large hydrotherapy room, indoor and outdoor training grounds, personal sleeping rooms, a gym, and a cafeteria.
Players Current squad As of 14 September 2026
Out on loan
Retired numbers
20 – Lee Dong-gook 25 – Choi Chul-soon
Backroom staff
Coaching staff Head coach: Chung Jung-yong Goalkeeping coach: Hwang Hee-hoon Fitness coach: Vacant Reserve team manager: An Dae-hyun Reserve team coaches: Kim Kwang-suk, Jung Boo-sun, Woo Jung-ha
Source: Official website
Support staff Team doctor: Song Ha-heon Physiotherapist: Gilvan Oliveira Medical trainers: Kim Byeong-seon, Lee Gyu-yeol, Noh Sang-keun Reserve team medical trainer: Park Jeong-hun Analyst: Lee Sun-gu Reserve team analyst: Park Jun-wan Kit manager: Choi Jae-hyeok Interpreters: Kim James Min-su, Pyo Seok-hwan
Source: Official website
Honours
Domestic K League 1 Winners (10): 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2025 Runners-up (3): 2012, 2016, 2022
Korea Cup Winners (6): 2000, 2003, 2005, 2020, 2022, 2025 Runners-up (3): 1999, 2013, 2023
Korean League Cup Runners-up (1): 2010
K League Super Cup Winners (2): 2004, 2026 Runners-up (2): 2001, 2006
Korean President's Cup Runners-up (1): 1999 (reserve team)
International AFC Champions League Winners (2): 2006, 2016 Runners-up (1): 2011
Asian Cup Winners' Cup Runners-up (1): 2002
Managers
No.NameFromToSeason(s)1 Cha Kyung-bok 1994/11/26 1996/12/05 1995–19962 Choi Man-hee 1996/12/06 2001/07/18 1997–2001C Nam Dae-sik 2001/07/19 2001/10/03 20013 Cho Yoon-hwan 2001/10/04 2005/06/12 2001–2005C Kim Hyung-yul 2005/06/13 2005/07/10 20054 Choi Kang-hee 2005/07/042013/06/28 2011/12/212018/12/02 2005–20112013–2018C Lee Heung-sil 2012/01/05 2012/12/12 2012C Fábio Lefundes 2012/12/20 2013/06/01 2013C Shin Hong-gi 2013/06/25 2013/06/27 20135 José Morais 2018/12/03 2020/12/06 2019–20206 Kim Sang-sik 2020/12/22 2023/05/04 2021–2023C Kim Do-heon 2023/05/04 2023/06/08 20237 Dan Petrescu 2023/06/09 2024/04/06 2023–2024C Park Won-jae 2024/04/07 2024/05/26 20248 Kim Do-heon 2024/05/27 2024/12/16 20249 Gus Poyet 2024/12/24 2025/12/08 202510 Chung Jung-yong 2025/12/24 present 2026–
Season-by-season records
Domestic record
Season Division Korea Cup1995187—199695Quarter-final1997106Round of 1619986Round of 1619997Runners-up20004Winners20019Semi-final20027Quarter-final2003125Winners2004136Quarter-final200512Winners20061411Round of 1620078Round of 1620084Quarter-final2009151Semi-final20103Quarter-final2011161Round of 1620122Quarter-final2013143Runners-up2014121Semi-final20151Round of 1620162Quarter-final20171Fourth round20181Round of 1620191Round of 3220201Winners20211Round of 1620222Winners20234Runners-up202410Round of 1620251Winners
Continental record All results list Jeonbuk's goal tally first. AFC Champions League