# 2021 in South Korean football

This article shows a summary of the 2021 football season in South Korea.

## National teams
### FIFA World Cup qualification

AFC second round, Group H table :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | South Korea | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 1 | +21 | 16 | Advance to AFC third round |
| 2 | Lebanon | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 8 | +3 | 10 | Advance to AFC third round |
| 3 | Turkmenistan | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 11 | −3 | 9 | |
| 4 | Sri Lanka | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 23 | −21 | 0 | |
| 5 | North Korea | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Withdrawal |

### Summer Olympics

Group B table :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | South Korea | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 1 | +9 | 6 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | New Zealand | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 3 | Romania | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 4 | |
| 4 | Honduras | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9 | −6 | 3 | |

### AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification

Group H table :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | South Korea | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 | +13 | 9 | Qualification for AFC U-23 Championship |
| 2 | Singapore (H) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | −3 | 4 | |
| 3 | Timor-Leste | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 4 | |
| 4 | Philippines | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | −5 | 0 | |

### Friendlies
#### Women's team
## Leagues
### K League 1

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (C) | 38 | 22 | 10 | 6 | 71 | 37 | +34 | 76 | Qualification for Champions League group stage |
| 2 | Ulsan Hyundai | 38 | 21 | 11 | 6 | 64 | 41 | +23 | 74 | Qualification for Champions League play-off round |
| 3 | Daegu FC | 38 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 41 | 48 | −7 | 55 | Qualification for Champions League play-off round |
| 4 | Jeju United | 38 | 13 | 15 | 10 | 52 | 44 | +8 | 54 | |
| 5 | Suwon FC | 38 | 14 | 9 | 15 | 53 | 57 | −4 | 51 | |
| 6 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 42 | 50 | −8 | 46 | |
| 7 | FC Seoul | 38 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 46 | 46 | 0 | 47 | |
| 8 | Incheon United | 38 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 38 | 45 | −7 | 47 | |
| 9 | Pohang Steelers | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 41 | 45 | −4 | 46 | |
| 10 | Seongnam FC | 38 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 34 | 46 | −12 | 44 | |
| 11 | Gangwon FC (O) | 38 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 40 | 51 | −11 | 43 | Qualification for relegation play-offs |
| 12 | Gwangju FC (R) | 38 | 10 | 7 | 21 | 42 | 54 | −12 | 37 | Relegation to K League 2 |
* ↑ Teams played each other three times (33 matches), before the league was split into two groups, the top six and the bottom six.

### K League 2
#### Regular season

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or qualification |
| 1 | Gimcheon Sangmu (C) | 36 | 20 | 11 | 5 | 60 | 34 | +26 | 71 | Promotion to K League 1 |
| 2 | FC Anyang | 36 | 17 | 11 | 8 | 51 | 37 | +14 | 62 | Qualification for promotion play-offs semi-final |
| 3 | Daejeon Hana Citizen | 36 | 17 | 7 | 12 | 53 | 48 | +5 | 58 | Qualification for promotion play-offs first round |
| 4 | Jeonnam Dragons | 36 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 38 | 33 | +5 | 52 | Qualification for Champions League group stage and promotion play-offs first round |
| 5 | Busan IPark | 36 | 12 | 9 | 15 | 46 | 56 | −10 | 45 | |
| 6 | Gyeongnam FC | 36 | 11 | 10 | 15 | 40 | 45 | −5 | 43 | |
| 7 | Ansan Greeners | 36 | 11 | 10 | 15 | 37 | 49 | −12 | 43 | |
| 8 | Chungnam Asan | 36 | 11 | 8 | 17 | 38 | 41 | −3 | 41 | |
| 9 | Seoul E-Land | 36 | 8 | 13 | 15 | 40 | 39 | +1 | 37 | |
| 10 | Bucheon FC 1995 | 36 | 9 | 10 | 17 | 32 | 53 | −21 | 37 | |
* ↑ Qualified as Korean FA Cup champions.

#### Promotion play-offs

| First round | First round | First round | Semi-final | Semi-final | Semi-final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| | | | 2 | FC Anyang | 1 | | | | | |
| | | | 3 | Daejeon Hana Citizen | 3 | | | | | |
| 3 | Daejeon Hana Citizen | 0 | 3 | Daejeon Hana Citizen | 3 | | | | | |
| 4 | Jeonnam Dragons | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Jeonnam Dragons | 0 | | | | Daejeon Hana Citizen | Daejeon Hana Citizen | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| | | | | | | Gangwon FC | Gangwon FC | 0 | 4 | 4 |

### K3 League
#### Regular season

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Cheonan City | 28 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 50 | 25 | +25 | 54 | Qualification for Championship final |
| 2 | Gimpo FC (C, P) | 28 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 35 | 20 | +15 | 52 | Qualification for Championship semi-final and K League 2 |
| 3 | Mokpo City | 28 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 34 | 23 | +11 | 50 | Qualification for Championship first round |
| 4 | Gyeongju KHNP | 28 | 13 | 7 | 8 | 39 | 30 | +9 | 46 | Qualification for Championship first round |
| 5 | Gimhae FC | 28 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 39 | 35 | +4 | 44 | |
| 6 | Busan Transportation Corporation | 28 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 32 | 33 | −1 | 41 | |
| 7 | Ulsan Citizen | 28 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 32 | 24 | +8 | 38 | |
| 8 | Changwon City | 28 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 28 | 27 | +1 | 38 | |
| 9 | Daejeon Korail | 28 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 32 | 30 | +2 | 36 | |
| 10 | Paju Citizen | 28 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 32 | 36 | −4 | 35 | |
| 11 | Cheongju FC | 28 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 37 | 39 | −2 | 34 | |
| 12 | Hwaseong FC | 28 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 29 | 34 | −5 | 34 | |
| 13 | Gangneung City | 28 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 23 | 42 | −19 | 20 | |
| 14 | Yangju Citizen | 28 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 17 | 43 | −26 | 20 | |
| 15 | Pyeongtaek Citizen (R) | 28 | 5 | 7 | 16 | 20 | 38 | −18 | 2 | Relegation to K4 League |

#### Championship play-offs

| First round | First round | First round | Semi-final | Semi-final | Semi-final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| | | | 2 | Gimpo FC | 2 | | | | | |
| | | | 3 | Mokpo City | 0 | | | | | |
| 3 | Mokpo City | 1 | 3 | Mokpo City | 0 | | | | | |
| 4 | Gyeongju KHNP | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Gyeongju KHNP | 1 | | | | | Gimpo FC | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | | | | | | 1 | Cheonan City | 0 | 2 | 2 |

### K4 League
#### Regular season

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Pocheon Citizen (C, P) | 30 | 21 | 6 | 3 | 80 | 28 | +52 | 69 | Promotion to K3 League |
| 2 | Siheung Citizen (P) | 30 | 21 | 4 | 5 | 75 | 32 | +43 | 67 | Promotion to K3 League |
| 3 | Dangjin Citizen (O, P) | 30 | 19 | 5 | 6 | 60 | 40 | +20 | 62 | Qualification for promotion play-off |
| 4 | Chungju Citizen | 30 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 60 | 31 | +29 | 57 | Qualification for promotion play-off |
| 5 | Jinju Citizen | 30 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 57 | 28 | +29 | 56 | |
| 6 | Geoje Citizen | 30 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 50 | 39 | +11 | 47 | |
| 7 | Pyeongchang United | 30 | 14 | 4 | 12 | 43 | 49 | −6 | 46 | |
| 8 | Gangwon FC B | 30 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 50 | 44 | +6 | 40 | |
| 9 | FC Namdong | 30 | 11 | 3 | 16 | 39 | 47 | −8 | 36 | |
| 10 | Chuncheon Citizen | 30 | 10 | 6 | 14 | 40 | 51 | −11 | 36 | |
| 11 | Seoul Nowon United | 30 | 9 | 5 | 16 | 40 | 53 | −13 | 32 | |
| 12 | Yeoju FC | 30 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 34 | 58 | −24 | 30 | |
| 13 | Yangpyeong FC | 30 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 39 | 52 | −13 | 29 | |
| 14 | Seoul Jungnang | 30 | 6 | 7 | 17 | 33 | 62 | −29 | 25 | |
| 15 | Jeonju Citizen | 30 | 7 | 3 | 20 | 39 | 71 | −32 | 24 | |
| 16 | Goyang Citizen | 30 | 5 | 4 | 21 | 30 | 84 | −54 | 19 | |

#### Promotion play-off

When the match was finished as a draw, its winners were decided on the regular season rankings without extra time and penalty shoot-out.

### WK League
#### Regular season

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels (C) | 21 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 51 | 14 | +37 | 52 | Qualification for play-offs final |
| 2 | Gyeongju KHNP | 21 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 59 | 17 | +42 | 51 | Qualification for play-offs semi-final |
| 3 | Suwon UDC | 21 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 35 | 27 | +8 | 30 | Qualification for play-offs semi-final |
| 4 | Seoul WFC | 21 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 28 | 44 | −16 | 30 | |
| 5 | Hwacheon KSPO | 21 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 | 30 | −2 | 28 | |
| 6 | Boeun Sangmu | 21 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 30 | −14 | 22 | |
| 7 | Sejong Sportstoto | 21 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 17 | 44 | −27 | 14 | |
| 8 | Changnyeong WFC | 21 | 1 | 6 | 14 | 19 | 47 | −28 | 9 | |

#### Championship play-offs

| Semi-final | Semi-final | Semi-final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| | | | 1 | Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | Gyeongju KHNP | 5 | | Gyeongju KHNP | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | Suwon UDC | 4 | | | | | |

## Domestic cups
### Korean FA Cup

| Round of 16 (Fourth round) | Round of 16 (Fourth round) | Round of 16 (Fourth round) | Round of 16 (Fourth round) | Quarter-finals (Fifth round) | Quarter-finals (Fifth round) | Quarter-finals (Fifth round) | Quarter-finals (Fifth round) | Semi-finals (Sixth round) | Semi-finals (Sixth round) | Semi-finals (Sixth round) | Semi-finals (Sixth round) | Final (Seventh round) | Final (Seventh round) | Final (Seventh round) | Final (Seventh round) |
| Jeonnam Dragons (p) | Jeonnam Dragons (p) | Jeonnam Dragons (p) | 2 (5) | | | | | | | | |
| Busan Transportation Corporation | Busan Transportation Corporation | Busan Transportation Corporation | 2 (3) | | | | | | | | |
| Busan Transportation Corporation | Busan Transportation Corporation | Busan Transportation Corporation | 2 (3) | Jeonnam Dragons | Jeonnam Dragons | Jeonnam Dragons | 010 | | | | |
| | | | | Pohang Steelers | Pohang Steelers | Pohang Steelers | 0 | | | | |
| Pohang Steelers | Pohang Steelers | Pohang Steelers | 3 | Pohang Steelers | Pohang Steelers | Pohang Steelers | 0 | | | | |
| Chungnam Asan | Chungnam Asan | Chungnam Asan | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Chungnam Asan | Chungnam Asan | Chungnam Asan | 1 | | | | | Jeonnam Dragons | Jeonnam Dragons | Jeonnam Dragons | 020 |
| | | | | | | | | Ulsan Hyundai | Ulsan Hyundai | Ulsan Hyundai | 1 |
| Ulsan Hyundai | Ulsan Hyundai | Ulsan Hyundai | 3 | | | | | Ulsan Hyundai | Ulsan Hyundai | Ulsan Hyundai | 1 |
| Gyeongnam FC | Gyeongnam FC | Gyeongnam FC | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Gyeongnam FC | Gyeongnam FC | Gyeongnam FC | 0 | Ulsan Hyundai | Ulsan Hyundai | Ulsan Hyundai | 2 | | | | |
| | | | | Yangju Citizen | Yangju Citizen | Yangju Citizen | 0 | | | | |
| Yangju Citizen (p) | Yangju Citizen (p) | Yangju Citizen (p) | 0 (10) | Yangju Citizen | Yangju Citizen | Yangju Citizen | 0 | | | | |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 0 (9) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 0 (9) | | | | | | | | | Jeonnam Dragons (a) | 000 | 040 | 040 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Daegu FC | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Daegu FC | Daegu FC | Daegu FC | 2 | | | | | | | | | Daegu FC | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Gimhae City | Gimhae City | Gimhae City | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Gimhae City | Gimhae City | Gimhae City | 0 | Daegu FC | Daegu FC | Daegu FC | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Gimcheon Sangmu | Gimcheon Sangmu | Gimcheon Sangmu | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Gimcheon Sangmu (a.e.t.) | Gimcheon Sangmu (a.e.t.) | Gimcheon Sangmu (a.e.t.) | 3 | Gimcheon Sangmu | Gimcheon Sangmu | Gimcheon Sangmu | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Seongnam FC | Seongnam FC | Seongnam FC | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Seongnam FC | Seongnam FC | Seongnam FC | 2 | | | | | Daegu FC | Daegu FC | Daegu FC | 1 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | Gangwon FC | Gangwon FC | Gangwon FC | 0 |
| Gangwon FC | Gangwon FC | Gangwon FC | 2 | | | | | Gangwon FC | Gangwon FC | Gangwon FC | 0 |
| Seoul E-Land | Seoul E-Land | Seoul E-Land | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Seoul E-Land | Seoul E-Land | Seoul E-Land | 0 | Gangwon FC | Gangwon FC | Gangwon FC | 2 | | | | |
| | | | | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 0 | | | | |
| Suwon Samsung Bluewings (p) | Suwon Samsung Bluewings (p) | Suwon Samsung Bluewings (p) | 0 (4) | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 0 | | | | |
| FC Anyang | FC Anyang | FC Anyang | 0 (2) | | | | | | | | |

## International cups
### FIFA Club World Cup

| Team | Result | Round | Score | Opponent |
| Ulsan Hyundai | Sixth place | Quarter-finals | 1–2 | UANL |
| Ulsan Hyundai | Sixth place | Fifth place match | 1–3 | Al-Duhail |

### AFC Champions League

| Team | Result | Round | Aggregate | Score | Opponent |
| Daegu FC | Round of 16 | Group I | Runners-up | 1–3 | Kawasaki Frontale |
| Daegu FC | Round of 16 | Group I | Runners-up | 2–3 | Kawasaki Frontale |
| Daegu FC | Round of 16 | Group I | Runners-up | 7–0 | United City |
| Daegu FC | Round of 16 | Group I | Runners-up | 4–0 | United City |
| Daegu FC | Round of 16 | Group I | Runners-up | 5–0 | Beijing Guoan |
| Daegu FC | Round of 16 | Group I | Runners-up | 3–0 | Beijing Guoan |
| Daegu FC | Round of 16 | Round of 16 | 2–4 | 2–4 | Nagoya Grampus |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Quarter-finals | Group H | Winners | 2–1 | Chiangrai United |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Quarter-finals | Group H | Winners | 3–1 | Chiangrai United |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Quarter-finals | Group H | Winners | 2–2 | Gamba Osaka |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Quarter-finals | Group H | Winners | 2–1 | Gamba Osaka |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Quarter-finals | Group H | Winners | 9–0 | Tampines Rovers |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Quarter-finals | Group H | Winners | 4–0 | Tampines Rovers |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Quarter-finals | Round of 16 | 1–1 (4–2 p) | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | BG Pathum United |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | 2–3 | 2–3 (a.e.t.) | Ulsan Hyundai |
| Pohang Steelers | Runners-up | Group G | Runners-up | 2–0 | Ratchaburi Mitr Phol |
| Pohang Steelers | Runners-up | Group G | Runners-up | 0–0 | Ratchaburi Mitr Phol |
| Pohang Steelers | Runners-up | Group G | Runners-up | 0–3 | Nagoya Grampus |
| Pohang Steelers | Runners-up | Group G | Runners-up | 1–1 | Nagoya Grampus |
| Pohang Steelers | Runners-up | Group G | Runners-up | 4–1 | Johor Darul Ta'zim |
| Pohang Steelers | Runners-up | Group G | Runners-up | 2–0 | Johor Darul Ta'zim |
| Pohang Steelers | Runners-up | Round of 16 | 1–0 | 1–0 | Cerezo Osaka |
| Pohang Steelers | Runners-up | Quarter-finals | 3–0 | 3–0 | Nagoya Grampus |
| Pohang Steelers | Runners-up | Semi-finals | 1–1 (5–4 p) | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | Ulsan Hyundai |
| Pohang Steelers | Runners-up | Final | 0–2 | 0–2 | Al-Hilal |
| Ulsan Hyundai | Semi-finals | Group F | Winners | 1–0 | Viettel |
| Ulsan Hyundai | Semi-finals | Group F | Winners | 3–0 | Viettel |
| Ulsan Hyundai | Semi-finals | Group F | Winners | 2–0 | BG Pathum United |
| Ulsan Hyundai | Semi-finals | Group F | Winners | 2–0 | BG Pathum United |
| Ulsan Hyundai | Semi-finals | Group F | Winners | 3–0 | Kaya–Iloilo |
| Ulsan Hyundai | Semi-finals | Group F | Winners | 2–1 | Kaya–Iloilo |
| Ulsan Hyundai | Semi-finals | Round of 16 | 0–0 (3–2 p) | 0–0 (a.e.t.) | Kawasaki Frontale |
| Ulsan Hyundai | Semi-finals | Quarter-finals | 3–2 | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
| Ulsan Hyundai | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | 1–1 (4–5 p) | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | Pohang Steelers |