Korea National League

The Korea National League was a football league, the third tier of the South Korean football league system. It consisted of 8 clubs. The league was considered a semi-professional league, when folded in 2019.

Korea National League
Founded2003 (2003)
First season2003
Folded2019
CountrySouth Korea
ConfederationAFC (Asia)
Number of teams8
Level on pyramid3
Domestic cup(s)Korean FA Cup
League cup(s)Korea National League Championship
Last championsGyeongju KHNP
(2018)
Most championshipsUlsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin (7 titles)
Websitehttp://www.n-league.net
2019 Korea National League
Korea National League
Hangul
내셔널리그
Revised RomanizationNaesyeneol rigeu
McCune–ReischauerNaesyŏnŏl rigŭ

History

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.

2019 was the final season of Korea National League, before getting absorbed into K3 League.

Promotion issue

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.

Following the case involving Goyang, teams in the National League signed agreements indicating whether or not they would seek promotion to the K-League if they won the National League in 2007. Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin, who won the championship in 2007, also rejected the chance to move up to the K-League despite previously indicating they would seek promotion.

In light of the issues surrounding the conditional promotion place in 2006 and 2007, the National League decided to end the system prior to the 2008 season.

On November 2, 2009, the new commissioner, Kwon Oh-Gab, announced that he would push the implementation of a promotion system with the K League within 3 years.

2018 season
Location of teams in 2018 Korea National League

The following 8 clubs compete in the Korea National League during the 2018 season:

Stadiums (2016)

Primary venues used in the Korea National League:

Busan Transportation Corporation Changwon FC Cheonan City Daejeon Korail Gangneung FC
Busan Gudeok Stadium Changwon Football Center Cheonan Football Center Daejeon Hanbat Stadium Gangneung Stadium
Capacity: 30,000 Capacity: 15,500 Capacity: 2,881 Capacity: 17,371 Capacity: 22,333
Gimhae FC Gyeongju KHNP Mokpo City Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin Yongin City
Gimhae Stadium Gyeongju Civic Stadium Mokpo International Football Center Ulsan Stadium Yongin Football Center
Capacity: 30,000 Capacity: 12,199 Capacity: 5,952 Capacity: 19,665 Capacity: 12,000

All-time Member Clubs

There have been a total of 16 member clubs since the league was founded as the K2 League in 2003. Seoul replaced Hallelujah for the second stage of the 2003 season after protests by radical Wonbuddhists forced the Christian club out of Iksan. Hallelujah returned to the league in 2004 after moving to Gimpo. Sangmu B withdrew their team from the league at the end of 2005 in order for the team, essentially the reserve side of K-League team Gwangju Sangmu Bulsajo, to compete in the K-League Reserves League. In the 2010 season, Nowon Hummel FC moved to Chungju city in Chungbuk province, and the club's name changed to Chungju Hummel FC. In the 2018 season, Changwon City FC will merger to Changwon FC{[clarify|date=July 2020}} because before 2018 season the club bas been dissolved from semi-professional league.

Teams are listed with present-day names in the case of sides that have changed names or locations previously. However, the 8 club of 2019 N-League season will founder of K3 League member as semi-professional team:

Club Duration City
Ansan H FC 2003 First Stage, 2004–2012 Ansan, Gyeonggi
Gyeongju Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power FC 2003–2019 Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk
Gangneung City FC 2003–2019 Gangneung, Gangwon
Goyang KB Kookmin Bank FC 2003–2012 Goyang, Gyeonggi
Daejeon Korail FC 2003–2019 Daejeon Metropolitan City
Chungju Hummel FC 2003–2012 Chungju, Chungbuk
Sangmu B 2003–2005 Icheon, Gyeonggi
Suwon City 2003–2012 Suwon, Gyeonggi
Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin 2003–2016 Ulsan Metropolitan City
Yesan FC 2003–2010 Yesan, Chungnam
Seoul FC 2003 Second Stage Seoul Metropolitan City
Changwon FC 2005–2019 Changwon, Gyeongnam
Busan Transportation Corporation FC 2006–2019 Busan Metropolitan City
Hongcheon Idu FC 2007–09 First Stage Hongcheon, Gangwon
Cheonan City FC 2008–2019 Cheonan, Chungnam
Gimhae FC 2008–2019 Gimhae, Gyeongnam
Mokpo City FC 2010–2019 Mokpo, Jeonnam
Yongin City FC 2010–2016 Yongin, Gyeonggi

Defunct former clubs

Previous winners

Titles By Season
Season
Winners
Runners-up
2003
 Goyang KB Sangmu B
2004
 Goyang KB Gangneung City
2005
 Incheon Korail Suwon City
2006
 Goyang KB Gimpo Hallelujah
2007
 Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin Suwon City
2008
 Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin Suwon City
2009
 Gangneung City Gimhae City
2010
 Suwon City Daejeon KHNP
2011
 Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin Goyang KB
2012
 Incheon Korail Goyang KB
2013
 Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin Gyeongju KHNP
2014
 Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin Daejeon Korail
2015
 Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin Gyeongju KHNP
2016
 Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin Gangneung City
2017
 Gyeongju KHNP Gimhae City
2018
 Gyeongju KHNP Gimhae City
2019
 Gangneung City Gyeongju KHNP

Titles By Club
Club
 Winners Runner-up
Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin 7 (2007, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016)
Goyang KB 3 (2003, 2004, 2006) 2 (2011, 2012)
Gyeongju KHNP 2 (2017, 2018) 4 (2010, 2013, 2015, 2019)
Gangneung City 2 (2009, 2019) 2 (2004, 2016)
Daejeon Korail 2 (2005, 2012) 1 (2014)
Suwon City 1 (2010) 3 (2005, 2007, 2008)
Gimhae City 3 (2009, 2017, 2018)
Sangmu B 1 (2003)
Ansan H FC 1 (2006)

Notable players

Sangmu players
  • Cho Jae-Jin
  • Cho Won-Hee
  • Kim Sang-Rok
  • Kim Sang-Sik
  • Kim Young-chul
  • Kwon Jung-Hyuk
  • Lee Dong-Gook
  • Park Ho-Jin
  • Park Jong-Woo
  • Park Sung Bae
  • Seo Deok-Kyu
  • Seo Dong-Won
  • Sim Jae-Won

Other players
  • Cho Se-Kwon - Formerly of Goyang KB Kookmin Bank.
  • Cho Won-Kwang - Cheonan City.
  • Choi Chul-Woo - Formerly of Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin.
  • Chung Yoo-Suk - Formerly of Gangneung City.
  • Hwang Yeon-Seok - Formerly of Goyang KB Kookmin Bank.
  • Jeon Sang-Dae - Formerly of Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin.
  • Jung Suk-Keun - Formerly of Incheon Korail.
  • Kim In-Sung - Formerly of Gangneung City.
  • Kim Han-Won - Suwon City.
  • Kim Min-Soo - Formerly of Incheon Korail.
    
  • Yoo Hyun - Formerly of Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin.

Crest
  • 2003–2009

Sponsorship
Year Sponsors League Name
2003 Hyundai Motor Company Hyundai Motors Cup 2003 K2 League (2003 1st Stage)
Intermax AD Intermax Cup 2003 K2 League (2003 2nd Stage)
2004 Hyundai Motor Company Hyundai Motors Cup 2004 K2 League
2005 KB Kookmin Bank KB Kookmin Bank Cup K2 League
2006 STC Company STC Cup 2006 National League
2007 STC Cup 2007 National League (2007 1st Stage)
KB Kookmin Bank KB Kookmin Bank 2007 National League (2007 2nd Stage)
2008 KB Kookmin Bank 2008 National League
2009 Kyobo Life Insurance Kyobo Life Insurance 2009 National League
2010 Korea Life Insurance Daehan Life Insurance 2010 National League
2011 Samsung Life Insurance Samsung Life Insurance 2011 National League
2012 Shinhan Bank Shinhan Bank 2012 National League
2013 Shinhan Bank 2013 National League
2014 Samsung Life Insurance Samsung Life Insurance 2014 National League
2015 Incheon International Airport Corporation Incheon International Airport Corporation 2015 National League
2016 Incheon International Airport Corporation 2016 National League
2017 None 2017 National League
2018 2018 National League
2019 2019 National League
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See also
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