Korea National League
 |
|
| Country |
 Korea Republic
|
|---|---|
| Confederation | AFC (Asia) |
| Founded | 2003 (1964 as Korea Football League) |
| Number of teams | 10 |
| Level on pyramid | 3 |
| Domestic cup(s) | Korean FA Cup |
| League cup(s) | Korea National League Championship |
| Current champions |
Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin (2016) |
| Most championships | Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin (7 titles) |
| Website | http://www.n-league.net |
 2016 Korea National League
|
|
| Korea National League | |
| Hangul | 내셔널리그 |
|---|---|
| Revised Romanization | Naesyeneol rigeu |
| McCune–Reischauer | Naesyŏnŏl rigŭ |
The Korea National League is an association football league, the third tier of the South Korean football league system. It consists of 10 clubs. The league is considered a semi-professional league, but every player in the National League is a full-time professional footballer.
The league was officially founded in 2003 as the K2 League to raise the level of competition in Korea. Prior to that, various cup competitions were run by the governing body of semi-professional football. Competitions under the present body can be traced back to 1964, with the participants being mostly work sides of the major industries in Korea (banks, construction companies and the like). It was rebranded as the Korea National League at the beginning of 2006.
It had operated with a two-stage season since its inception, with the two-stage winners meeting in a two-legged championship playoff final at the end of the season before changing to a four team playoff in 2008. Kookmin Bank won the 2003 championship, and successfully defended their title in 2004. Incheon Korail claimed the title in 2005 before Kookmin Bank won it for a third time in 2006. Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin won the championship in 2007.
On December 18, 2009, Mokpo City Government FC & Yongin City Government FC were approved to join the league beginning with the 2010 season.
Ever since the creation of the league, hopes had been high that a system of promotion and relegation would be implemented between the league and the K-League, the professional football league in Korea. In 2006, it was agreed that, subject to meeting certain financial requirements, the National League champions would be eligible for promotion. Goyang KB Kookmin Bank, who triumphed over Gimpo Hallelujah to win the 2006 title, were the first side eligible for promotion; however, they controversially rejected the chance to return to the professional ranks.
The team received several threats from the National League ranging from being thrown out of the competition, to fines, to point deductions for the upcoming 2007 season. In the end, the side received a point deduction penalty, to be split into ten point deductions in the first and second stages of the 2007 season.
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