K3 League (2007–2019)
The K3 League (2007) was a football competition that existed in South Korea from 2007 to 2019. It was considered the third tier of South Korean football league system. When the a professional K League 2 was launched in 2013, it was relegated to the fourth tier league. In 2017, it was divided into the fourth tier K3 League Advanced and the fifth tier K3 League Basic on a system of promotion and relegation. In 2020, the former Korea National League and K3 League Advanced/Basic went defunct and will got merged into the K3 League as third tier, and the rest of the K3 League Advanced/Basic clubs were founded in the K4 League. The newly revamped K3 League and K4 League were established for the 2020 season.
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| Founded | 2007 |
|---|---|
| First season | 2007 |
| Folded | 2019 |
| Country | South Korea |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of teams | 16 |
| Level on pyramid | 3 |
| Promotion to | K League 2 |
| Relegation to | K4 League |
| Domestic cup(s) | Korean FA Cup |
| Last champions | Hwaseong FC (2019) |
| Most championships | FC Pocheon (6 titles) |
 2019 K3 League Basic | |
| K3 League | |
| Hangul | K3리그 |
|---|---|
| Revised Romanization | K3 Rigeu |
| McCune–Reischauer | K3 Rigŭ |
History
2007 was the inaugural season of the K3 League, and ten teams competed in the competition.
The season operated a two-stage system, with each side playing each other once in each stage for a combined total of eighteen matches (nine in each stage). The winners of both stages, Hwasung Shinwoo Electronics FC and Seoul United respectively, plus the two teams with the best overall record from both stages, Cheonan FC and Yongin FC, entered the championship playoffs. Seoul United emerged victorious in the championship playoffs, defeating Hwasung Shinwoo Electronics FC 3–0 on aggregate. The four playoff teams earned a spot in the 2008 FA Cup competition.
Seven new clubs registered ahead of the 2008 season with just one of the founder members, Daegu Korea Powertrain, withdrawing from the league set-up.
After the first stage of the 2008 season, Changwon United withdrew from the league due to financial problem. At the end of the 2008 season, Seoul Pabal FC was closed down because some their players were implicated in the K3 League match fixing scandal.
From the 2009 season, three new clubs registered to bring the total of competing clubs to 17.
On December 1, 2009, it was announced that Seoul Yangcheon FC, Yeonggwang FC and Chuncheon Citizen FC would join the league for the 2010 season. The top nine finishers would earn a spot in the next year's FA Cup competition. The KFA also announced that undergraduates would not be allowed to play from the 2012 season onward.
On January 15, 2010, KFA announced the league schedule for the 2010 season. Seoul Yangcheon FC postponed joining the league until 2011 season. Jeonju Ongoeul FC withdrew and is now defunct.
K3 League was renamed as the Challengers League prior to the start of the 2011 season.
The 2013 season started with Hwaseong FC as the new team. Namyangju United FC, however, withdrew and Bucheon FC 1995 left after receiving approval to join the K-League. This left eighteen teams to contest the season.
In January 2014, on the day of the fixtures meeting, Asan United withdrew from the league with plans to return in 2015. FC Uijeongbu, formed at the end of the 2013 season as a citizens club, joined the league for the 2014. This meant that the total number of teams remained at eighteen. Another minor change to the league was made public in the week before the start of the season. The name of the league, for the 2014 season, was officially changed from Challengers League to K3 League Challengers.[1]
In January 2015, to avoid confusing with K League Challenge, the league name was changed back to K3 League.[2]
In 2017, K3 League introduced the division system. The first division's name is K3 League Advanced, while the second division's became K3 League Basic.
In 2019, is the final season of K3 League Advanced and Basic as amateur league. However, before being revamped into the K3 League as a semi-professional league for the 2020 season, the former Korea National League and K3 League Advanced were absorbed into the third division and were rebranded as K3 League as 3rd-tier.
League Name History
- 2007–2010: K3 League
- 2011–2013: Challengers League
- 2014: K3 Challengers League
- 2015–2016: K3 League
- 2017–2019: K3 League (K3 League Advanced / K3 League Basic)
Competition Format
In 2008 season, it operated its season in two stages, with the winners of each stage and the two runners-up advancing to the post-season championship playoffs. If in the event of the same team winning both stages, there will be no playoff.
In 2009 season, the championship playoff was abolished. Each club played the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 32 games.
The 2010 season ran from March 13 through October 30. The 16 teams in the league are divided into the Group A and Group B — eight in the Group A, eight in the Group B. Each team competes against the other team in same group twice, home and away, the other group's team once, home or away, for a total of 22 games. The two group winners and two runners-up qualify to the Championship playoff.
In 2015 season, The 18 teams in the league are divided into the Group A and Group B — nine in the Group A, ninein the Group B. Each team competes against the other team in same group twice, home and away, the other group's team once, home or away, for a total of 25 games. The two group winners, two runners-up, two 3rd place qualify to the Championship playoff. [3]
In 2016 season, The 20 teams compete in a single division. Each team plays each other once for a total of 19 games. After the regular season, the top 11 teams will qualify for the 2017 K3 League Advanced. The playoff winner of 4 teams ranked 12th to 15th will also qualify for 2017 K3 League Advanced. The remaining 8 teams will compete in the 2017 K3 League Basic. [4]
In 2017 season, Each K3 Advance team played each other twice for a total of 22 games. Each K3 Advance team played each other home and away for a total of 16 games. 11th and 12th K3 Advance team are relegated to the K3 Basic League. Champion of K3 Basic team is promoted to K3 Advance leagued. 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th of K3 Basic team have playoff and playoff's winner is promoted.[5]
In 2019 season, is the final season of K3 League Advanced and Basic as amateur league. However, before revamped into the third tier as K3 League as semi-professional for the 2020 season, the former Korea National League and the previously K3 League Advanced will got absorbed into the third tier, and were rebranded as K3 League.
All-time Member Clubs
Previous winners
Titles By Season
K3 League, K3 Challengers League (2007-2016)
K3 League, K3 Challengers League
| Season | Champions | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Seoul United | Hwasung Shinwoo Electronics |
| 2008 | Yangju Citizen | Hwasung Shinwoo Electronics |
| 2009 | FC Pocheon | Gwangju Gwangsan FC |
| 2010 | Gyeongju Citizen | Hwasung Shinwoo Electronics |
| 2011 | Gyeongju Citizen | Yangju Citizen |
| 2012 | FC Pocheon | Chuncheon FC |
| 2013 | FC Pocheon | Paju Citizen |
| 2014 | Hwaseong FC | FC Pocheon |
| 2015 | FC Pocheon | Gyeongju Citizen |
| 2016 | FC Pocheon | Cheongju City |
K3 League Advanced and K3 League Basic (2017-2019)
K3 League Advanced
| Season | Champions | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | FC Pocheon | Cheongju City |
| 2018 | Gyeongju Citizen | Icheon Citizen |
| 2019 | Hwaseong FC | Yangpyeong FC |
K3 League Basic
| Season | Champions | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Jungnang Chorus | Siheung Citizen |
| 2018 | Siheung Citizen | Paju Citizen |
| 2019 | Ulsan Citizen FC | Jeonju Citizen FC |
Titles By Club
| Club | Winners | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| FC Pocheon | 5 (2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016) | 1 (2014) |
| Gyeongju Citizen | 3 (2010, 2011, 2017) | 1 (2015) |
| Hwaseong FC | 2 (2014, 2019) | |
| Yangju Citizen | 1 (2008) | 1 (2011) |
| Seoul United | 1 (2007) | |
| Hwasung Shinwoo Electronics | 3 (2007, 2008, 2010) | |
| Gwangju Gwangsan FC | 1 (2009) | |
| Chuncheon FC | 1 (2012) | |
| Paju Citizen | 1 (2013) | |
| Yangpyeong FC | 1 (2019) | |
| Cheongju City | 2 (2016, 2017) |
See also
- K League 1
- K League 2
- Korea National League
- K3 League
- K4 League
- K5 League
- Korean FA Cup
- Korean football league system
References
- Seoul United FC making the first announcement (in Korean)
- 2015 K3리그 대진추첨, ‘강팀 포진’ A조-‘이변 기대’ B조(in Korean)
- "전주시민축구단, 14일 리그 홈 개막전". 12 March 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- "한층 업그레이드 된 K3리그, 관전포인트 셋". Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- "[K3리그 개막특집] 전문가 3인에게 한번 물어봤습니다". Retrieved 22 November 2019.
External links
- Official website (in Korean)
- K3 League Advanced summary(SOCCERWAY) (in English)
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