# 2016 K League Challenge

The 2016 K League Challenge was the fourth season of the K League 2, the second-highest division in the South Korean football league system. Originally, K League Challenge champions could be promoted to the K League Classic, but Ansan Mugunghwa lost its qualification for the promotion after Ansan Government decided to break up with police football team from next year. Runners-up Daegu FC directly qualified for the Classic instead of champions Ansan Mugunghwa, and third, fourth and fifth-placed team advanced to the promotion playoffs.

## Teams
### Team changes

Relegated from K League Classic
* Daejeon Citizen
* Busan IPark
Promoted to K League Classic
* Sangju Sangmu
* Suwon FC

### Stadiums

| Ansan Mugunghwa | FC Anyang | Bucheon FC 1995 |
| Ansan Wa~ Stadium | Anyang Stadium | Bucheon Stadium |
| Capacity: 35,000 | Capacity: 17,143 | Capacity: 34,545 |
| Busan IPark | Chungju Hummel | Daegu FC |
| Busan Asiad Main Stadium | Chungju Stadium | Daegu Stadium |
| Capacity: 53,864 | Capacity: 15,000 | Capacity: 68,014 |
| Daejeon Citizen | Gangwon FC | Goyang Zaicro |
| Daejeon World Cup Stadium | Gangneung Stadium | Goyang Stadium |
| Capacity: 40,535 | Capacity: 22,333 | Capacity: 41,311 |
| Gyeongnam FC | Seoul E-Land | |
| Changwon Football Center | Seoul Olympic Stadium | |
| Capacity: 15,500 | Capacity: 69,950 | |

### Personnel and sponsoring

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| Team | Managers | Kit manufacturer | Main sponsor |
| Ansan Mugunghwa | Lee Heung-sil | Zaicro | Ansan Government |
| FC Anyang | Lee Young-min | Astore | |
| Bucheon FC 1995 | Song Sun-ho | Astore | Bucheon Government |
| Busan IPark | Choi Young-jun | Adidas | Hyundai Development Company |
| Chungju Hummel | Ahn Seung-in | Hummel | Chungju Government |
| Daegu FC | Lee Young-jin | Kelme | Daegu Government |
| Daejeon Citizen | Choi Moon-sik | Kelme | Daejeon Government |
| Gyeongnam FC | Kim Jong-boo | Hummel | DSME |
| Gangwon FC | Choi Yun-kyum | Astore | High1 Resort |
| Goyang Zaicro | Lee Nak-young | Zaicro | Zaicro |
| Seoul E-Land | Martin Rennie | New Balance | E-Land |

### Foreign players

Restricting the number of foreign players strictly to four per team, including a slot for a player from AFC countries. A team could use four foreign players on the field each game.
| Club | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 | Asian Player |
| FC Anyang | Bruninho | | | |
| Bucheon FC 1995 | Edson Paraíba | Lukian | Waguininho | |
| Busan IPark | Nilson Júnior | Willian Popp | Miloš Stojanović | |
| Chungju Hummel | Aubin Kouakou | Malcon | Rafael Ratão | |
| Daegu FC | Wesley Alex | Cesinha | Paulo Sérgio | Éder Lima |
| Daejeon Citizen | Gustavo Sauer | Jean-Claude Bozga | | |
| Gyeongnam FC | Ivan Herceg | Cristian Dănălache | Ivan Marković | |
| Gangwon FC | Maranhão | Matheus Alves | Luiz Henrique | Serginho |
| Goyang Zaicro | Felipe | Paulo Victor | | |
| Seoul E-Land | Tarabai | Carlyle Mitchell | | |
* ↑ Éder Lima owned Palestinian citizenship and was counted as an Asian player in the K League.

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Ansan Mugunghwa (C) | 40 | 21 | 7 | 12 | 57 | 55 | +2 | 70 | |
| 2 | Daegu FC (P) | 40 | 19 | 13 | 8 | 53 | 36 | +17 | 70 | Promotion to the K League Classic |
| 3 | Bucheon FC 1995 | 40 | 19 | 10 | 11 | 49 | 33 | +16 | 67 | Qualification for the promotion playoffs semi-final |
| 4 | Gangwon FC (O, P) | 40 | 19 | 9 | 12 | 50 | 33 | +17 | 66 | Qualification for the promotion playoffs first round |
| 5 | Busan IPark | 40 | 19 | 7 | 14 | 52 | 39 | +13 | 64 | Qualification for the promotion playoffs first round |
| 6 | Seoul E-Land | 40 | 17 | 13 | 10 | 47 | 35 | +12 | 64 | |
| 7 | Daejeon Citizen | 40 | 15 | 10 | 15 | 56 | 52 | +4 | 55 | |
| 8 | Gyeongnam FC | 40 | 18 | 6 | 16 | 61 | 58 | +3 | 50 | |
| 9 | FC Anyang | 40 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 40 | 53 | −13 | 46 | |
| 10 | Chungju Hummel | 40 | 7 | 8 | 25 | 42 | 62 | −20 | 29 | |
| 11 | Goyang Zaicro | 40 | 2 | 10 | 28 | 21 | 72 | −51 | 16 | |
* ↑ Ansan Mugunghwa lost its qualification for the promotion after Ansan Government decided to break up with Korean Police Agency.
* ↑ Gyeongnam FC were deducted 10 points due to bribery scandal.

## Positions by matchday

Leaders  Qualification for the promotion playoffs

### Round 1–22

| Team ╲ Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| Ansan Mugunghwa | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Gangwon FC | 9 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Daegu FC | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Bucheon FC 1995 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Seoul E-Land | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| FC Anyang | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| Daejeon Citizen | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Busan IPark | 8 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Gyeongnam FC | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Chungju Hummel | 3 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Goyang Zaicro | 3 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 |

### Round 23–44

| Team ╲ Round | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 |
| Ansan Mugunghwa | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Daegu FC | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Bucheon FC 1995 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Gangwon FC | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Busan IPark | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Seoul E-Land | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Daejeon Citizen | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Gyeongnam FC | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| FC Anyang | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Chungju Hummel | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Goyang Zaicro | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 |

## Results
### Matches 1–20

| Home \ Away | ASM | ANY | BUC | BIP | CJH | DGU | DJC | GWN | GYZ | GNM | SEL |
| Ansan Mugunghwa | — | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 5–0 | 1–0 |
| FC Anyang | 1–0 | — | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 |
| Bucheon FC 1995 | 3–1 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 |
| Busan IPark | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | — | 2–1 | 1–4 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 |
| Chungju Hummel | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–4 | — | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 |
| Daegu FC | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | — | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Daejeon Citizen | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | — | 0–1 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 |
| Gangwon FC | 2–0 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | — | 4–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 |
| Goyang Zaicro | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 0–1 | — | 1–2 | 0–3 |
| Gyeongnam FC | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 4–4 | 1–0 | 2–1 | — | 0–1 |
| Seoul E-Land | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | — |

### Matches 21–40

| Home \ Away | ASM | ANY | BUC | BIP | CJH | DGU | DJC | GWN | GYZ | GNM | SEL |
| Ansan Mugunghwa | — | 2–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 0–4 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 |
| FC Anyang | 2–3 | — | 2–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 |
| Bucheon FC 1995 | 0–2 | 1–0 | — | 1–0 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 |
| Busan IPark | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | — | 0–0 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 |
| Chungju Hummel | 8–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | — | 0–3 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 0–1 |
| Daegu FC | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | — | 1–0 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 |
| Daejeon Citizen | 5–0 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | — | 1–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–3 |
| Gangwon FC | 1–0 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | — | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 |
| Goyang Zaicro | 0–4 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | — | 2–3 | 0–2 |
| Gyeongnam FC | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 4–3 | 2–0 | 7–0 | — | 1–1 |
| Seoul E-Land | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — |

## Promotion playoffs
### Bracket

| First round | First round | First round | Semi-final | Semi-final | Semi-final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| | | | 3 | Bucheon FC 1995 | 1 | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Gangwon FC | 2 | | | | | |
| 4 | Gangwon FC | 1 | 4 | Gangwon FC | 2 | | | | | |
| 5 | Busan IPark | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Busan IPark | 0 | | | | Gangwon FC (a) | Gangwon FC (a) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| | | | | | | Seongnam FC | Seongnam FC | 0 | 1 | 1 |

### Final

The promotion-relegation playoffs were held between the winners of the 2016 K League Challenge playoffs and the 11th-placed club of the 2016 K League Classic. The winner on aggregate score after both matches earned entry into the 2017 K League Classic.
1–1 on aggregate. Gangwon FC won on away goals and were promoted to the K League Classic, while Seongnam FC were relegated to the K League Challenge.

## Player statistics
### Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Kim Dong-chan | Daejeon Citizen | 20 |
| 2 | Cristian Dănălache | Gyeongnam FC | 19 |
| 3 | Willian Popp | Busan IPark | 18 |
| 4 | Paulo Sérgio | Daegu FC | 17 |
| 5 | Lukian | Bucheon FC 1995 | 15 |
| 6 | Joo Min-kyu | Seoul E-Land | 14 |
| 7 | Kim Shin | Chungju Hummel | 13 |
| 8 | Tarabai | Seoul E-Land | 12 |
| 9 | Matheus Alves | Gangwon FC | 11 |
| 9 | Cesinha | Daegu FC | 11 |
| 9 | Kim Min-kyun | FC Anyang | 11 |

### Top assist providers

| Rank | Player | Club | Assists |
| 1 | Lee Ho-seok | Gyeongnam FC | 10 |
| 1 | Jung Seok-hwa | Busan IPark | 10 |
| 3 | Cesinha | Daegu FC | 8 |
| 3 | Kim Dong-chan | Daejeon Citizen | 8 |
| 5 | Moon Ki-han | Bucheon FC 1995 | 7 |
| 6 | Gustavo Sauer | Daejeon Citizen | 6 |
| 6 | Song Soo-young | Gyeongnam FC | 6 |
| 6 | Kim Shin | Chungju Hummel | 6 |
| 6 | Jin Chang-soo | Bucheon FC 1995 | 6 |
| 6 | Lee Hyun-seung | Ansan Mugunghwa | 6 |
| 6 | Han Ji-ho | Ansan Mugunghwa | 6 |
| 6 | Cristian Dănălache | Gyeongnam FC | 6 |

## Attendance

Attendants who entered with free ticket were not counted.
| Pos | Team | Total | High | Low | Average | Change |
| 1 | Daegu FC | 54,246 | 23,015 | 369 | 2,712 | −10.4%$^†$ |
| 2 | Daejeon Citizen | 50,797 | 18,082 | 955 | 2,540 | −23.9%$^†$ |
| 3 | Bucheon FC 1995 | 41,619 | 10,982 | 713 | 2,081 | +22.6%$^†$ |
| 4 | FC Anyang | 36,530 | 9,145 | 521 | 1,827 | +7.5%$^†$ |
| 5 | Busan IPark | 30,670 | 6,075 | 508 | 1,534 | −38.5%$^†$ |
| 6 | Seoul E-Land | 26,218 | 3,060 | 508 | 1,311 | −28.2%$^†$ |
| 7 | Gyeongnam FC | 24,003 | 4,610 | 307 | 1,200 | −36.6%$^†$ |
| 8 | Gangwon FC | 21,328 | 3,042 | 518 | 1,066 | −21.4%$^†$ |
| 9 | Ansan Mugunghwa | 20,093 | 4,072 | 202 | 1,005 | −39.6%$^†$ |
| 10 | Chungju Hummel | 18,871 | 3,118 | 388 | 944 | −23.1%$^†$ |
| 11 | Goyang Zaicro | 7,054 | 897 | 124 | 353 | −48.7%$^†$ |
| | League total | 331,429 | 23,015 | 124 | 1,506 | −6.2%$^†$ |
Source: K League Notes: $^†$ Team played previous season in K League Classic.

## Awards
### Main awards

The 2016 K League Awards was held on 8 November 2016.
* Most Valuable Player: Kim Dong-chan (Daejeon Citizen)
* Top goalscorer: Kim Dong-chan (Daejeon Citizen)
* Top assist provider: Lee Ho-seok (Gyeongnam FC)
* Manager of the Year: Son Hyun-jun (Daegu FC)

### Best XI

| Position | Player | Club |
| Goalkeeper | Jo Hyeon-woo | Daegu FC |
| Defenders | Jeong Woo-jae | Daegu FC |
| Defenders | Hwang Jae-won | Daegu FC |
| Defenders | Lee Han-saem | Gangwon FC |
| Defenders | Jung Seung-yong | Gangwon FC |
| Midfielders | Waguininho | Bucheon FC 1995 |
| Midfielders | Lee Hyun-seung | Ansan Mugunghwa |
| Midfielders | Hwang In-beom | Daejeon Citizen |
| Midfielders | Cesinha | Daegu FC |
| Forwards | Kim Dong-chan | Daejeon Citizen |
| Forwards | Willian Popp | Busan IPark |

### Player of the Round

| Round | Player | Club |
| 1 | Lim Sun-young | Ansan Mugunghwa |
| 2 | Jung Jae-yong | FC Anyang |
| 3 | Jo Hyeon-woo | Daegu FC |
| 4 | Jonatas Belusso | Seoul E-Land |
| 5 | Shim Young-sung | Gangwon FC |
| 6 | Lee Young-chang | Chungju Hummel |
| 7 | Park Tae-hong | Daegu FC |
| 8 | Jo Hyeon-woo | Daegu FC |
| 9 | Willian Popp | Busan IPark |
| 10 | Lukian | Bucheon FC 1995 |
| 11 | Jung Jae-yong | FC Anyang |
| 12 | Jung Jae-yong | FC Anyang |
| 13 | Park Ji-min | Chungju Hummel |
| 14 | Jung Seung-yong | Gangwon FC |
| 15 | Éder Lima | Daegu FC |
| 16 | Jang Baek-gyu | Chungju Hummel |
| 17 | Kim Min-kyun | FC Anyang |
| 18 | Wanderson | Daejeon Citizen |
| 19 | Jeong Woo-jae | Daegu FC |
| 20 | Gustavo Sauer | Daejeon Citizen |
| 21 | Cesinha | Daegu FC |
| 22 | Kim Min-kyun | FC Anyang |
| Round | Player | Club |
| 23 | Hwang In-beom | Daejeon Citizen |
| 24 | Song Soo-young | Gyeongnam FC |
| 25 | Cristian Dănălache | Gyeongnam FC |
| 26 | Jung Sung-min | Ansan Mugunghwa |
| 27 | Joo Min-kyu | Seoul E-Land |
| 28 | Ko Kyung-min | Busan IPark |
| 29 | Jung Seung-yong | Gangwon FC |
| 30 | Kim Dong-chan | Daejeon Citizen |
| 31 | Wesley Alex | Daegu FC |
| 32 | Han Ji-ho | Ansan Mugunghwa |
| 33 | Cristian Dănălache | Gyeongnam FC |
| 34 | Aubin Kouakou | Chungju Hummel |
| 35 | Willian Popp | Busan IPark |
| 36 | Lee Ho-seok | Gyeongnam FC |
| 37 | Cesinha | Daegu FC |
| 38 | Cristian Dănălache | Gyeongnam FC |
| 39 | Cesinha | Daegu FC |
| 40 | Joo Min-kyu | Seoul E-Land |
| 41 | Cristian Dănălache | Gyeongnam FC |
| 42 | Hong Dong-hyun | Busan IPark |
| 43 | Jung Seok-hwa | Busan IPark |
| 44 | Cesinha | Daegu FC |

### Manager of the Month

| Month | Manager | Club | Division |
| March/April | Choi Yong-soo | FC Seoul | K League Classic |
| May | Nam Ki-il | Gwangju FC | K League Classic |
| June | Lee Heung-sil | Ansan Mugunghwa | K League Challenge |
| July | Choi Kang-hee | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | K League Classic |
| August | Choi Young-jun | Busan IPark | K League Challenge |
| September | Choi Yun-kyum | Gangwon FC | K League Challenge |
| October | Hwang Sun-hong | FC Seoul | K League Classic |