# Korea American Football Association

The Korea American Football Association (KAFA, Korean: 대한미식축구협회; Hanja: 大韓美式蹴球協會) has existed in South Korea for more than 70 years. The popularity of American football in Korea has been historically low, but with the visit of Hines Ward (a Korean born NFL football star with the Pittsburgh Steelers) in 2006, the sport received a modest level of increased appeal. Within Korea, KAFA is a sports governing body over both traditional football with pads and also flag football.
Traditional football leagues within Korea is divided between university and senior (KNFL) teams. Three championship bowl games of special note occur at the end of the season. The Tiger Bowl determines the champions of the University league, the Gwanggaeto Bowl determines the champions of the KNFL, and finally, the Kimchi Bowl, the Korean equivalent of Japan's Rice Bowl, pits the University champion against the KNFL champion.

## College Programs

| Institution | 한국어 | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Nickname | Colors |
| Dong-eui University | 동의대학교 | Busan | 1977 | Private | 22,992 | Turtle Fighters | Red and White |
| Yonsei University | 연세대학교 | Seoul | 1977 | Private | 38,725 | Eagles | Royal Blue |
| Dankook University | 단국대학교 | Yongin | 2015 | Private | 31,347 | Kodiak | Navy and White |

## Korea National Football League

In 2015, there were seven teams in the KNFL, divided into two divisions (북부리그 North Division, 남부리그 South Division). The top two seeds of each division played in a four-team semifinal playoff. Winners of the semifinals played in the Gwanggaeto Bowl Championship. The KNFL Champion played the Korean University League Champion in the Kimchi Bowl.
Starting in 2016, the KNFL changed to a full league format, with each of the seven teams playing one another. The two teams with the best regular season records face off in the Gwanggaeto Bowl. The KNFL Champion plays the Korean University League Champion in the Kimchi Bowl.
* Seoul Golden Eagles
* Seoul Carnivores (Sponsored by Seoul National University OB)
* Seoul Vikings
* Daegu Phoenix
* Samsung Geoje Blue Storm
* Busan Gryphons
* KS Bluegons (Sponsored by KyungSung University OB)

### Gwanggaeto Bowl Finals

| # | Date | Champions | Score | Runners-up | Venue |
| 1 | 1996.1.7 | Seven Six | 20 - 6 | Leos | Hyochang Stadium, Seoul |
| 2 | 1997.1.19 | Bluegons | 18 - 6 | Blue Friends | Sajik Stadium, Busan |
| 3 | 1998.1.11 | Seven Six | 6 - 0 | Bluegons | Kyungsung University Stadium, Busan |
| 4 | 1999.1.10 | Blue Friends | 12 - 6 | Caps | Hyochang Stadium, Seoul |
| 5 | 2000.1.9 | Red Stars | 32 - 22 | Caps | Hyochang Stadium, Seoul |
| 6 | 2001.1.14 | Red Stars | 20 - 6 | Scholars | Hyochang Stadium, Seoul |
| 7 | 2002.1.13 | Seven Six | 18 - 12 | Red Stars | Duryu Park Stadium, Daegu |
| 8 | 2003.1.12 | Scholars | 18 - 12 | Caps | Pusan National University Stadium, Busan |
| 9 | 2004.1.18 | Caps (Seoul Golden Eagles) | 17 - 6 | Bluegons | Pusan National University Stadium, Busan |
| 10 | 2005.1.16 | Halraes | 14 - 7 | Seven Six | Hyochang Stadium, Seoul |
| 11 | 2005.12.18 | Seoul Vikings | 33 - 21 | Caps | Yong In University Stadium, Yongin |
| 12 | 2006.12.10 | Gryphons | 19 - 10 | Seoul Vikings | Seoul National University Stadium, Seoul |
| 13 | 2007.12.2 | Gryphons | 23 - 13 | ADT Caps | Yong In University Stadium, Yongin |
| 14 | 2008.12.7 | Seoul Vikings | 28 - 3 | Seoul Golden Eagles | Namyangju Stadium, Namyangju |
| 15 | 2009.12.6 | ADT Caps | 13 - 0 | Seoul Vikings | Namyangju Stadium, Namyangju |
| 16 | 2010.12.12 | Daegu Phoenix | 14 - 7 | ADT Caps | Namyangju Stadium, Namyangju |
| 17 | 2011.12.4 | Seoul Warriors | 16 - 13 | Domino | Yongsan SIMS Stadium, Seoul |
| 18 | 2012.12.2 | Seoul Vikings | 14 - 7 | Seoul Warriors | Yongsan SIMS Stadium, Seoul |
| 19 | 2013.11.24 | Seoul Vikings | 26 - 23 | Seoul Golden Eagles | Yongsan SIMS Stadium, Seoul |
| 20 | 2014.11.16 | Samsung BlueStorm | 28 - 13 | Daegu Phoenix | Jinyeong Stadium, Gimhae |
| 21 | 2015.11.15 | Seoul Golden Eagles | 22 - 14 | Daegu Phoenix | Daegu Haany University Stadium, Gyeongsan |
| 22 | 2016.11.20 | Daegu Phoenix | 34 - 20 | Samsung Bluestorm | Seochang Stadium, Yangsan |
| 23 | 2017.11.26 | Seoul Vikings | 13 - 12 | Samsung Bluestorm | Seochang Stadium, Yangsan |

## Tiger Bowl

The Tiger Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in South Korea established in 1994. The game is the championship game for the KFAF's college programs.

### Finals

| # | Date | Champions |
| 1 | 1995 | Dong-a University |
| 2 | 1996 | Keimyung University |
| 3 | 1997 | Kyungpook National University |
| 4 | 1998 | Dong-a University |
| 5 | 1999 | Dong-a University |
| 6 | 2000 | Kyungsung University |
| 7 | 2001 | Kyungsung University |
| 8 | 2002 | Kumoh National Institute of Technology |
| 9 | 2003 | Dong-a University |
| 10 | 2004 | Kumoh National Institute of Technology |
| 11 | 2005 | Dong-a University |
| 12 | 2006 | Dong-Eui University |
| 13 | 2007 | Dong-Eui University |
| 14 | 2008 | Dong-Eui University |
| 15 | 2009 | Pusan National University |
| 16 | 2010 | Pusan National University |
| 17 | 2011 | Pusan National University |
| 18 | 2012 | Hanyang University |
| 19 | 2013 | Pusan National University |
| 20 | 2014 | Dong-Eui University |
| 21 | 2015 | Dong-Eui University |
| 22 | 2016 | Dong-Eui University |
| 23 | 2017 | Dong-Eui University |
| 24 | 2018 | Dong-Eui University |
| 25 | 2019 | Sungkyunkwan University |

## Kimchi Bowl

The Kimchi Bowl is the final championship game of KAFA. The game pits the KNFL team that has won the Gwanggaeto Bowl against the university team that has won the Tiger bowl.

### Finials

| # | Date | Champions | Score | Runners-up | Venue |
| 1 | 1996.1.14 | DongA University | 12 - 7 | Seven Six | Sajik Stadium, Busan |
| 2 | 1997.1.26 | Bluegons | 28 - 18 | Keimyung University | Sajik Stadium, Busan |
| 3 | 1998.1.18 | Kyungpook National University | 47 - 6 | Seven Six | Hyochang Stadium, Seoul |
| 4 | 1999.1.17 | DongA University | 35 - 22 | Blue Friends | Hyochang Stadium, Seoul |
| 5 | 2000.1.16 | DongA University | 19 - 14 | Red Stars | Hyochang Stadium, Seoul |
| 6 | 2001.1.21 | Red Stars | 13 - 0 | Kyungsung University | Hyochang Stadium, Seoul |
| 7 | 2002.1.27 | Seven Six | 27 - 14 | Kyungsung University | Duryu Park Stadium, Daegu |
| 8 | 2003.1.19 | Gumoh National University | 7 - 6 | Scholars | Pusan National University Stadium, Busan |
| 9 | 2004.1.1 | Caps (Seoul Golden Eagles) | 23 - 17 | DongA University | Pusan National University Stadium, Busan |
| 10 | 2005.1.30 | Halraes | 27 - 12 | Gumoh National University | Hyochang Stadium, Seoul |
| 11 | 2006.1.8 | DongA University | 7 - 6 | Seoul Vikings | Keimyung University Stadium, Daegu |
| 12 | 2007.1.14 | Busan Gryphons | 37 - 0 | DongEui University | Pusan National University Stadium, Busan |
| 13 | 2008.1.6 | Busan Gryphons | 21 - 12 | DongEui University | Pusan National University Stadium, Busan |
| 14 | 2009.1.11 | Seoul Vikings | 20 - 14 | DongEui University | Namyangju Stadium, Namyangju |
| 15 | 2010.1.10 | Pusan National University | 34 - 13 | ADT Caps | Namyangju Stadium, Namyangju |
| 16 | 2011.1.9 | Daegu Phoenix | 40 - 24 | Busan National University | Kyungpook National University Stadium, Daegu |
| 17 | 2012.1.8 | Seoul Warriors | 14 - 0 | Busan National University | Seoul Yongsan SIMS Stadium, Seoul |
| 18 | 2012.12.30 | Seoul Vikings | 23 - 0 | Hanyang University | Pocheon Stadium, Pocheon |
| 19 | 2013.12.1 | Pusan National University | 14 - 6 | Seoul Vikings | Kyungil University Stadium, Gyeongsan |
| 20 | 2014.11.30 | Samsung BlueStorm | 7 - 6 | DongEui University | Samsung Heavy Industries Stadium, Geoje |
| 21 | 2015.12.6 | Seoul Golden Eagles | 27 - 6 | DongEui University | Seoul National University Stadium, Seoul |
| 22 | 2016.12.4 | DongEui University (Turtle Fighters) | 17 - 6 | Daegu Phoenix | Kyungpook National University Stadium, Daegu |
| 23 | 2017.12.5 | DongEui University (Turtle Fighters) | 21 - 14 | Seoul Vikings | Pusan National University Stadium, Busan |