# 2024 in South Korean football

This article shows a summary of the 2024 football season in South Korea.

## National teams
### AFC Asian Cup

Under manager Jürgen Klinsmann, South Korea were considered among the pre-tournament favourites. After winning their opening match against Bahrain, the team failed to win their remaining two group stage matches after drawing with Jordan and Malaysia, respectively, finishing second in their group and conceding goals in all matches. South Korea narrowly advanced to the semi-finals after knocking out Saudi Arabia on penalties and Australia in extra time, but Klinsmann was heavily criticised for his lack of tactical ability. Korean FA president Chung Mong-gyu, who directly appointed Klinsmann as national team manager without a general process, was called to be held responsible for his decision after South Korea's semi-final loss to Jordan without a shot on target.
Group E table :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Bahrain | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | South Korea | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 5 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 3 | Jordan | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 4 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 4 | Malaysia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | –5 | 1 |

### FIFA World Cup qualification

AFC second round, Group C table :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | South Korea | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 1 | +19 | 16 | Advance to AFC third round |
| 2 | China | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 8 | Advance to AFC third round |
| 3 | Thailand | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 8 | |
| 4 | Singapore | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 24 | −19 | 1 | |
* ↑ Head-to-head points: China 4, Thailand 1.

### AFC U-23 Asian Cup

Group B table :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | South Korea | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 9 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Japan | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 6 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 3 | China | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 3 | |
| 4 | United Arab Emirates | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | −4 | 0 | |

### Friendlies
#### Senior team
#### Under-23 team

* ↑ Not recognised as an official match.

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

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Ulsan HD (C) | 38 | 21 | 9 | 8 | 62 | 40 | +22 | 72 | Qualification for Champions League Elite league stage |
| 2 | Gangwon FC | 38 | 19 | 7 | 12 | 62 | 56 | +6 | 64 | Qualification for Champions League Elite league stage |
| 3 | Gimcheon Sangmu | 38 | 18 | 9 | 11 | 55 | 41 | +14 | 63 | |
| 4 | FC Seoul | 38 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 55 | 42 | +13 | 58 | Qualification for Champions League Elite play-off round |
| 5 | Suwon FC | 38 | 15 | 8 | 15 | 54 | 57 | −3 | 53 | |
| 6 | Pohang Steelers | 38 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 53 | 50 | +3 | 53 | Qualification for Champions League Two group stage |
| 7 | Jeju United | 38 | 15 | 4 | 19 | 38 | 54 | −16 | 49 | |
| 8 | Daejeon Hana Citizen | 38 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 43 | 47 | −4 | 48 | |
| 9 | Gwangju FC | 38 | 14 | 5 | 19 | 42 | 49 | −7 | 47 | |
| 10 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (O) | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 49 | 59 | −10 | 42 | Qualification for relegation play-offs |
| 11 | Daegu FC (O) | 38 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 45 | 52 | −7 | 40 | Qualification for relegation play-offs |
| 12 | Incheon United (R) | 38 | 9 | 12 | 17 | 38 | 49 | −11 | 39 | 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.
* ↑ Military-owned team Gimcheon Sangmu cannot qualify for AFC competitions.
* ↑ Qualified as Korea Cup champions.

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

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or qualification |
| 1 | FC Anyang (C, P) | 36 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 51 | 36 | +15 | 63 | Promotion to K League 1 |
| 2 | Chungnam Asan | 36 | 17 | 9 | 10 | 60 | 44 | +16 | 60 | Qualification for promotion play-offs final round |
| 3 | Seoul E-Land | 36 | 17 | 7 | 12 | 62 | 45 | +17 | 58 | Qualification for promotion play-offs second round |
| 4 | Jeonnam Dragons | 36 | 16 | 9 | 11 | 61 | 50 | +11 | 57 | Qualification for promotion play-offs first round |
| 5 | Busan IPark | 36 | 16 | 8 | 12 | 55 | 45 | +10 | 56 | Qualification for promotion play-offs first round |
| 6 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 36 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 46 | 35 | +11 | 56 | |
| 7 | Gimpo FC | 36 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 43 | 41 | +2 | 54 | |
| 8 | Bucheon FC 1995 | 36 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 44 | 45 | −1 | 49 | |
| 9 | Cheonan City | 36 | 11 | 10 | 15 | 48 | 57 | −9 | 43 | |
| 10 | Chungbuk Cheongju | 36 | 8 | 16 | 12 | 32 | 42 | −10 | 40 | |
| 11 | Ansan Greeners | 36 | 9 | 10 | 17 | 35 | 48 | −13 | 37 | |
| 12 | Gyeongnam FC | 36 | 6 | 15 | 15 | 45 | 62 | −17 | 33 | |
| 13 | Seongnam FC | 36 | 5 | 11 | 20 | 34 | 66 | −32 | 26 | |

#### Promotion play-offs

| First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Final 1 | Final 1 | Final 1 | Final 1 | Final 1 |
| | | | 3 | Seoul E-Land | 2 | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Jeonnam Dragons | 2 | | | | | |
| 4 | Jeonnam Dragons | 0 | 4 | Jeonnam Dragons | 2 | | | | | |
| 5 | Busan IPark | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Busan IPark | 0 | | | | Seoul E-Land | Seoul E-Land | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| | | | | | | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| | | | | | | Final 2 | Final 2 | Final 2 | Final 2 | Final 2 |
| | | | | | | Chungnam Asan | Chungnam Asan | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| | | | | | | Daegu FC (a.e.t.) | Daegu FC (a.e.t.) | 3 | 3 | 6 |

### K3 League

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Siheung Citizen (C) | 30 | 18 | 6 | 6 | 60 | 27 | +33 | 60 | |
| 2 | Hwaseong FC (P) | 30 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 56 | 32 | +24 | 56 | Promotion to K League 2 |
| 3 | Gyeongju KHNP | 30 | 17 | 5 | 8 | 44 | 28 | +16 | 56 | |
| 4 | Changwon FC | 30 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 48 | 31 | +17 | 50 | |
| 5 | Gimhae FC | 30 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 41 | 28 | +13 | 50 | |
| 6 | FC Mokpo | 30 | 15 | 4 | 11 | 49 | 45 | +4 | 49 | |
| 7 | Daejeon Korail | 30 | 11 | 13 | 6 | 42 | 28 | +14 | 46 | |
| 8 | Paju Citizen | 30 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 42 | |
| 9 | Gangneung Citizen | 30 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 34 | 41 | −7 | 39 | |
| 10 | Yangpyeong FC | 30 | 11 | 4 | 15 | 33 | 45 | −12 | 37 | |
| 11 | Yeoju FC | 30 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 26 | 42 | −16 | 35 | |
| 12 | Ulsan Citizen | 30 | 9 | 7 | 14 | 30 | 43 | −13 | 34 | |
| 13 | Busan Transportation Corporation | 30 | 9 | 3 | 18 | 38 | 60 | −22 | 30 | |
| 14 | Chuncheon Citizen | 30 | 4 | 14 | 12 | 27 | 38 | −11 | 26 | |
| 15 | Pocheon Citizen (O) | 30 | 5 | 11 | 14 | 34 | 49 | −15 | 26 | Qualification for relegation play-off |
| 16 | Daegu FC B (R) | 30 | 5 | 6 | 19 | 36 | 61 | −25 | 21 | Relegation to K4 League |
* ↑ Promoted after getting a license for K League 2.

### K4 League
#### Regular season

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors B (C, P) | 24 | 17 | 3 | 4 | 57 | 27 | +30 | 54 | Promotion to K3 League |
| 2 | Daejeon Hana Citizen B | 24 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 41 | 32 | +9 | 37 | |
| 3 | Seoul Nowon United | 24 | 13 | 4 | 7 | 63 | 43 | +20 | 34 | Qualification for promotion play-off |
| 4 | Jeonju Citizen | 24 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 43 | 36 | +7 | 34 | |
| 5 | Jinju Citizen | 24 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 36 | 36 | 0 | 34 | |
| 6 | Namyangju FC | 24 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 36 | 36 | 0 | 34 | |
| 7 | Dangjin Citizen | 24 | 11 | 1 | 12 | 46 | 47 | −1 | 34 | |
| 8 | Geoje Citizen | 24 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 38 | 47 | −9 | 34 | |
| 9 | Pyeongchang United | 24 | 9 | 5 | 10 | 39 | 35 | +4 | 32 | |
| 10 | FC Chungju | 24 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 43 | 43 | 0 | 32 | |
| 11 | Seoul Jungnang | 24 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 34 | 38 | −4 | 26 | |
| 12 | Pyeongtaek Citizen | 24 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 39 | 34 | +5 | 25 | |
| 13 | FC Sejong | 24 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 29 | 90 | −61 | 12 | |
* ↑ Daejeon Hana Citizen B did not qualify for the promotion play-off due to its dissolution after the season.
* ↑ Seoul Nowon United received a 9 point deduction.
* ↑ FC Chungju received a 2 point deduction.
* ↑ Seoul Jungnang received a 4 point deduction.

#### Promotion play-off

The promotion play-off was contested between the 15th-placed team of K3 League and the third-placed team of K4 League (instead of runners-up Daejeon Hana Citizen B).

### WK League
#### Regular season

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Hwacheon KSPO | 28 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 49 | 27 | +22 | 56 | Qualification for Championship |
| 2 | Suwon FC | 28 | 15 | 8 | 5 | 47 | 31 | +16 | 53 | Qualification for Play-off |
| 3 | Gyeongju KHNP | 28 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 54 | 36 | +18 | 51 | Qualification for Play-off |
| 4 | Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels | 28 | 12 | 11 | 5 | 36 | 25 | +11 | 47 | |
| 5 | Sejong Sportstoto | 28 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 31 | 30 | +1 | 38 | |
| 6 | Seoul City | 28 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 33 | 44 | −11 | 27 | |
| 7 | Mungyeong Sangmu | 28 | 4 | 7 | 17 | 24 | 45 | −21 | 19 | |
| 8 | Changnyeong WFC | 28 | 2 | 5 | 21 | 11 | 47 | −36 | 11 | |

#### Championship play-offs

| Play-off (Semi-final) | Play-off (Semi-final) | Play-off (Semi-final) | Championship (Finals) | Championship (Finals) | Championship (Finals) | Championship (Finals) | Championship (Finals) |
| | | | 1 | Hwacheon KSPO | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 2 | Suwon FC (p) | 1 (5) | | Suwon FC | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 3 | Gyeongju KHNP | 1 (4) | | | | | |

#### Final table

| Pos | Team | Qualification |
| 1 | Suwon FC (C) | Qualification for Champions League |
| 2 | Hwacheon KSPO | |
| 3 | Gyeongju KHNP | |

## Domestic cups
### Korea 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) |
| Pohang Steelers (p) | Pohang Steelers (p) | Pohang Steelers (p) | 1 (5) | | | | | | | | |
| Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 1 (4) | | | | | | | | |
| Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 1 (4) | Pohang Steelers | Pohang Steelers | Pohang Steelers | 050 | | | | |
| | | | | FC Seoul | FC Seoul | FC Seoul | 1 | | | | |
| FC Seoul (p) | FC Seoul (p) | FC Seoul (p) | 0 (5) | FC Seoul | FC Seoul | FC Seoul | 1 | | | | |
| Gangwon FC | Gangwon FC | Gangwon FC | 0 (4) | | | | | | | | |
| Gangwon FC | Gangwon FC | Gangwon FC | 0 (4) | | | | | Pohang Steelers | 020 | 020 | 040 |
| | | | | | | | | Jeju United | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Gimpo FC | Gimpo FC | Gimpo FC | 1 | | | | | Jeju United | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 0 | Gimpo FC | Gimpo FC | Gimpo FC | 0 | | | | |
| | | | | Jeju United | Jeju United | Jeju United | 1 | | | | |
| Daejeon Hana Citizen | Daejeon Hana Citizen | Daejeon Hana Citizen | 0 (7) | Jeju United | Jeju United | Jeju United | 1 | | | | |
| Jeju United (p) | Jeju United (p) | Jeju United (p) | 0 (8) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jeju United (p) | Jeju United (p) | Jeju United (p) | 0 (8) | | | | | | | | | Pohang Steelers (a.e.t.) | Pohang Steelers (a.e.t.) | Pohang Steelers (a.e.t.) | 030 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Ulsan HD | Ulsan HD | Ulsan HD | 1 |
| Bucheon FC 1995 | Bucheon FC 1995 | Bucheon FC 1995 | 2 | | | | | | | | | Ulsan HD | Ulsan HD | Ulsan HD | 1 |
| Gwangju FC | Gwangju FC | Gwangju FC | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Gwangju FC | Gwangju FC | Gwangju FC | 3 | Gwangju FC (a.e.t.) | Gwangju FC (a.e.t.) | Gwangju FC (a.e.t.) | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Seongnam FC | Seongnam FC | Seongnam FC | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Seongnam FC (p) | Seongnam FC (p) | Seongnam FC (p) | 1 (5) | Seongnam FC | Seongnam FC | Seongnam FC | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Chungbuk Cheongju | Chungbuk Cheongju | Chungbuk Cheongju | 1 (4) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Chungbuk Cheongju | Chungbuk Cheongju | Chungbuk Cheongju | 1 (4) | | | | | Gwangju FC | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | Ulsan HD | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Ulsan HD (p) | Ulsan HD (p) | Ulsan HD (p) | 4 (3) | | | | | Ulsan HD | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Gyeongnam FC | Gyeongnam FC | Gyeongnam FC | 4 (0) | | | | | | | | |
| Gyeongnam FC | Gyeongnam FC | Gyeongnam FC | 4 (0) | Ulsan HD | Ulsan HD | Ulsan HD | 1 | | | | |
| | | | | Incheon United | Incheon United | Incheon United | 0 | | | | |
| Incheon United (p) | Incheon United (p) | Incheon United (p) | 0 (4) | Incheon United | Incheon United | Incheon United | 0 | | | | |
| Gimcheon Sangmu | Gimcheon Sangmu | Gimcheon Sangmu | 0 (3) | | | | | | | | |

## International cups
### AFC Champions League Elite
#### 2023–24 season

The previous rounds before the knockout stage were held in 2023.
| Team | Result | Round | Aggregate | Score | Venue | Opponent |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Quarter-finals | Round of 16 | 3–1 | 2–0 | Home | Pohang Steelers |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Quarter-finals | Round of 16 | 3–1 | 1–1 | Away | Pohang Steelers |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | 1–2 | 1–1 | Home | Ulsan HD |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | 1–2 | 0–1 | Away | Ulsan HD |
| Pohang Steelers | Round of 16 | Round of 16 | 1–3 | 0–2 | Away | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
| Pohang Steelers | Round of 16 | Round of 16 | 1–3 | 1–1 | Home | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
| Ulsan HD | Semi-finals | Round of 16 | 5–1 | 3–0 | Home | Ventforet Kofu |
| Ulsan HD | Semi-finals | Round of 16 | 5–1 | 2–1 | Away | Ventforet Kofu |
| Ulsan HD | Semi-finals | Quarter-finals | 2–1 | 1–1 | Away | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
| Ulsan HD | Semi-finals | Quarter-finals | 2–1 | 1–0 | Home | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
| Ulsan HD | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | 3–3 (4–5 p) | 1–0 | Home | Yokohama F. Marinos |
| Ulsan HD | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | 3–3 (4–5 p) | 2–3 (a.e.t.) | Away | Yokohama F. Marinos |

#### 2024–25 season

The other two league stage matches and the next rounds were held in 2025.
| Team | Round | Score | Venue | Opponent |
| Gwangju FC | League East | 7–3 | Home | Yokohama F. Marinos |
| Gwangju FC | League East | 1–0 | Away | Kawasaki Frontale |
| Gwangju FC | League East | 3–1 | Home | Johor Darul Ta'zim |
| Gwangju FC | League East | 0–2 | Away | Vissel Kobe |
| Gwangju FC | League East | 1–0 | Home | Shanghai Shenhua |
| Gwangju FC | League East | 1–1 | Away | Shanghai Port |
| Pohang Steelers | League East | 1–4 | Away | Shanghai Shenhua |
| Pohang Steelers | League East | 3–0 | Home | Shanghai Port |
| Pohang Steelers | League East | 0–1 | Away | Buriram United |
| Pohang Steelers | League East | 4–2 (cancelled) | Home | Shandong Taishan |
| Pohang Steelers | League East | 0–2 | Away | Yokohama F. Marinos |
| Pohang Steelers | League East | 3–1 | Home | Vissel Kobe |
| Ulsan HD | League East | 0–1 | Home | Kawasaki Frontale |
| Ulsan HD | League East | 0–4 | Away | Yokohama F. Marinos |
| Ulsan HD | League East | 0–2 | Home | Vissel Kobe |
| Ulsan HD | League East | 0–3 | Away | Johor Darul Ta'zim |
| Ulsan HD | League East | 1–3 | Home | Shanghai Port |
| Ulsan HD | League East | 2–1 | Away | Shanghai Shenhua |

### AFC Champions League Two

The next rounds after the group stage were held in 2025.
| Team | Result | Round | Aggregate | Score | Venue | Opponent |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Knockout stage | Group H | Winners | 6–0 | Away | Dynamic Herb Cebu |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Knockout stage | Group H | Winners | 4–0 | Home | Dynamic Herb Cebu |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Knockout stage | Group H | Winners | 4–1 | Home | Muangthong United |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Knockout stage | Group H | Winners | 0–1 | Away | Muangthong United |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Knockout stage | Group H | Winners | 1–2 | Away | Selangor |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Knockout stage | Group H | Winners | 1–0 | Home | Selangor |