K-League's decentralization policy
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|
| Country |
 South Korea
|
|---|---|
| Confederation | AFC |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Divisions |
K League Classic (First Division) K League Challenge (Second Division) |
| Number of teams | 22 |
| Domestic cup(s) | FA Cup |
| International cup(s) | AFC Champions League |
| Current champions |
FC Seoul (Classic) Ansan Mugunghwa FC (Challenge) |
| Most championships | Seongnam FC (7) |
| Website | Official website |
K League (Korea Professional Football League) is South Korea's professional association football league including first division K League Classic and second division K League Challenge. The fact that both the first and second divisions have very similar names has caused some degree of confusion and controversy.
The K League Classic was founded in 1983 as the Korean Super League, with five member clubs. The initial five clubs were Hallelujah FC, Yukong Elephants, POSCO Dolphins, Daewoo Royals, Kookmin Bank FC. Hallelujah FC won the inaugural title, finishing one point ahead of Daewoo Royals to lift the crown.
In 1998, Korea's football league was reformed and renamed the K League (K League was official orthography by 2012). Since its creation, the league has expanded from an initial 5 to 16 clubs. Of the five inaugural clubs, only Yukong Elephants, POSCO Dolphins, and Daewoo Royals remains in the K League; Kookmin Bank FC dropped out of the league at the end of 1984, and Hallelujah FC followed the season after.
In 2013, K League introduced the division system. The first division's name is K League Classic, the second division's name is K League Challenge and the comprehensive brand name is K League.
Below the K League Classic, there is the K League Challenge, and below the K League Challenge, there is the National League, a closed semi-professional league with ten clubs, established in 2003. The fourth level of football in Korea is the K3 League.
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