List of South Korean football champions

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 National Semipro League (Spring) Keumsung Textile (1)
Cheil Industries (1)		 —
National Semipro League (Autumn) Keumsung Textile (2) Korea Tungsten
1965 National Semipro League (Spring) Keumsung Textile (3)
Korea Tungsten (1)
Korea Electric Power (1)		 —
National Semipro League (Autumn) Korea Tungsten (2) Korea Coal Corporation
1966 National Semipro League (Spring) Seoul Police Department (1) Korea Electric Power
National Semipro League (Autumn) Korea Tungsten (3)
Seoul Police Department (2)		 —
1967 National Semipro League (Spring) National Police Department (3) Ssangyong Cement
National Semipro League (Autumn) Korea Electric Power (2) Cheil Industries
1968 National Semipro League (Spring) Korea Tungsten (4) Korea Electric Power
National Semipro League (Autumn) Cheil Industries (2)
ROK Army Quartermaster Corps (1)		 —
1969 National Semipro League (Spring) Korea Electric Power (3) Korea Tungsten
National Semipro League (Autumn) Unknown[a]
1970 National Semipro League (Spring) Cheil Industries (3) Korea Tungsten
National Semipro League (Autumn) Chohung Bank (1) Korea Trust Bank
1971 National Semipro League (Spring) Korea Trust Bank (1) Korea Exchange Bank
Korea Housing Bank
National Semipro League (Autumn) ROK Marine Corps (1) Korea Trust Bank
Chohung Bank
1972 National Semipro League (Spring) Korea Housing Bank (1) ROK Marine Corps
National Semipro League (Autumn) Korea Housing Bank (2) ROK Marine Corps
1973 National Semipro League (Spring) ROK Marine Corps (2) Kookmin Bank
National Semipro League (Autumn) Korea Trust Bank (2) ROK Army
1974 National Semipro League (Spring) Chohung Bank (2) ROK Army
National Semipro League (Autumn) Commercial Bank of Korea (1)
ROK Army (1)		 —
1975 National Semipro League (Spring) POSCO FC (1) ROK Army
National Semipro League (Autumn) Industrial Bank of Korea (1) Korea Automobile Insurance
1976 National Semipro League (Spring) Korea Exchange Bank (1)
Korea Trust Bank (3)		 —
1977
 National Semipro League ROK Army (2) POSCO FC
1978 National Semipro League (Spring) Seoul City (1)
ROK Navy (3)		 —
National Semipro League (Autumn) Korea Automobile Insurance (1) Seoul City
1979 National Semipro League (Spring) Industrial Bank of Korea (2) ROK Army
1980 National Semipro League (Spring) Seoul City (2)
ROK Army (3)		 —
National Semipro League (Autumn) Korea Automobile Insurance (2)
ROK Air Force (1)		 —
1981 National Semipro League (Spring) Daewoo FC (1) ROK Navy
National Semipro League (Autumn) POSCO FC (2) ROK Army
1982
 National Semipro League POSCO FC (3) Kookmin Bank
K League Hallelujah FC (1) Daewoo Royals
K League Daewoo Royals (2) Yukong Elephants
K League Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso (1) POSCO Atoms
K League POSCO Atoms (4) Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso
K League Daewoo Royals (3) POSCO Atoms
K League POSCO Atoms (5) Hyundai Horang-i
K League Yukong Elephants (1) Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso
K League Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso (2) Daewoo Royals
K League Daewoo Royals (4) Hyundai Horang-i
K League POSCO Atoms (6) Ilhwa Chunma
K League Ilhwa Chunma (1) LG Cheetahs
K League Ilhwa Chunma (2) Yukong Elephants
K League Ilhwa Chunma (3) Pohang Atoms
K League Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i (1) Suwon Samsung Bluewings
K League Busan Daewoo Royals (5) Jeonnam Dragons
K League Suwon Samsung Bluewings (1) Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i
K League Suwon Samsung Bluewings (2) Busan Daewoo Royals
K League Anyang LG Cheetahs (3) Bucheon SK
K League Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (4) Anyang LG Cheetahs
K League Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (5) Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i
K League Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (6) Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i
K League Suwon Samsung Bluewings (3) Pohang Steelers
K League Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i (2) Incheon United
K League Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (7) Suwon Samsung Bluewings
K League Pohang Steelers (7) Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
K League Suwon Samsung Bluewings (4) FC Seoul
K League Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (1) Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
K League FC Seoul (4) Jeju United
K League Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (2) Ulsan Hyundai
K League FC Seoul (5) Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
K League 1 Pohang Steelers (8) Ulsan Hyundai
K League 1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (3) Suwon Samsung Bluewings
K League 1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (4) Suwon Samsung Bluewings
K League 1 FC Seoul (6) Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
K League 1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (5) Jeju United
K League 1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (6) Gyeongnam FC
K League 1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (7) Ulsan Hyundai
K League 1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (8) Ulsan Hyundai
K League 1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (9) Ulsan Hyundai
K League 1 Ulsan Hyundai (3) Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
K League 1 Ulsan Hyundai (4) Pohang Steelers
K League 1 Ulsan HD (5) Gangwon FC
K League 1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (10) Daejeon Hana Citizen
  1. ↑ There is an article about the second round of Autumn season,[1] but no record after that. It might be stopped because of many international football matches.

Statistics

All-time (since 1964)

Titles by club

In South Korea, professional era records are generally accepted.

Club Champions Runners-up Seasons won
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 10 3 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2025
Pohang Steelers 8 6 1975, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1992, 2007, 2013
Seongnam FC 7 3 1993, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006
FC Seoul 6 5 1985, 1990, 2000, 2010, 2012, 2016
Ulsan HD 5 10 1996, 2005, 2022, 2023, 2024
Busan Daewoo Royals 5 3 1981, 1984, 1987, 1991, 1997
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 4 4 1998, 1999, 2004, 2008
Korea Tungsten 4 3 1965 (2), 1966, 1968
ROK Army 3 5 1974, 1977, 1980
ROK Navy 3 3 1971, 1973, 1978
Korea Electric Power 3 2 1965, 1967, 1969
Korea Trust Bank 3 2 1971, 1973, 1976
Cheil Industries 3 1 1964, 1968, 1970
Keumsung Textile 3 0 1964 (2), 1965
National Police Department 3 0 1966 (2), 1967
Korea Housing Bank 2 1 1972 (2)
Chohung Bank 2 1 1970, 1974
Seoul City 2 1 1978, 1980
Korea Automobile Insurance 2 1 1978, 1980
Industrial Bank of Korea 2 0 1975, 1979
Jeju United 1 5 1989
Korea Exchange Bank 1 1 1976
ROK Army Quartermaster Corps 1 0 1968
Commercial Bank of Korea 1 0 1974
ROK Air Force 1 0 1980
Hallelujah FC 1 0 1983

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.[2]

Club Champions Runners-up Seasons won
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
10
3
 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2025
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
7
3
 1993, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006
FC Seoul
6
5
 1985, 1990, 2000, 2010, 2012, 2016
Ulsan HD
5
10
 1996, 2005, 2022, 2023, 2024
Pohang Steelers
5
5
 1986, 1988, 1992, 2007, 2013
Suwon Samsung Bluewings
4
4
 1998, 1999, 2004, 2008
Busan Daewoo Royals
4
3
 1984, 1987, 1991, 1997
Jeju United
1
5
 1989
Hallelujah FC
1
0
 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
10
 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 10 (2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2025)
7
 Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso 1 (1990)
FC Seoul 3 (2010, 2012, 2016)
Ilhwa Chunma 3 (1993, 1994, 1995)
5
 Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i 2 (1996, 2005)
Ulsan Hyundai 2 (2022, 2023)
Ulsan HD 1 (2024)
4
 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)
2
 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

References

  1. ↑ 陸軍,一毛를 零封. Naver.com (in Korean). Kyunghyang. 16 August 1969. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  2. ↑ "The Official K League Annual Report" (in Korean). K League editorial division.
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