# 2022 in South Korean football

This article shows a summary of the 2022 football season in South Korea.

## National teams
### FIFA World Cup

The South Korean team, led by manager Paulo Bento and captained by the reigning Premier League Golden Boot winner Son Heung-min, qualified for the World Cup as the second-placed team of the AFC qualifying group A. After a goalless draw against Uruguay and a narrow defeat against Ghana, South Korea defeated Portugal 2–1 in the final match of the group stage with a stoppage-time goal by Hwang Hee-chan. Uruguay defeated Ghana 2–0, which meant that South Korea advanced to the knockout stage for the first time since 2010 on virtue of scoring more goals than Uruguay, with the same number of points. In the round of 16, the team was eliminated after losing 4–1 to Brazil.
Group H table :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Portugal | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 6 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | South Korea | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 3 | Uruguay | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | |
| 4 | Ghana | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | –2 | 3 | |

### FIFA World Cup qualification

AFC third round, Group A table :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Iran | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 4 | +11 | 25 | Qualification for World Cup |
| 2 | South Korea | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 3 | +10 | 23 | Qualification for World Cup |
| 3 | United Arab Emirates | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 12 | Qualification for AFC fourth round |
| 4 | Iraq | 10 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 12 | −6 | 9 | |
| 5 | Syria | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 16 | −7 | 6 | |
| 6 | Lebanon | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 13 | −8 | 6 | |

### EAFF Championship

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Japan (H, C) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | +9 | 7 |
| 2 | South Korea | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 6 |
| 3 | China | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 4 |
| 4 | Hong Kong | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | −10 | 0 |

### AFC U-23 Asian Cup

Group C table :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | South Korea | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 7 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Vietnam | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 5 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 3 | Thailand | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 4 | |
| 4 | Malaysia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 | −8 | 0 | |

### Friendlies
#### Under-23 team
## Leagues
### K League 1

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Ulsan Hyundai (C) | 38 | 22 | 10 | 6 | 57 | 33 | +24 | 76 | Qualification for Champions League group stage |
| 2 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 38 | 21 | 10 | 7 | 56 | 36 | +20 | 73 | Qualification for Champions League group stage |
| 3 | Pohang Steelers | 38 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 52 | 41 | +11 | 60 | Qualification for Champions League group stage |
| 4 | Incheon United | 38 | 13 | 15 | 10 | 46 | 42 | +4 | 54 | Qualification for Champions League play-off round |
| 5 | Jeju United | 38 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 52 | 50 | +2 | 52 | |
| 6 | Gangwon FC | 38 | 14 | 7 | 17 | 50 | 52 | −2 | 49 | |
| 7 | Suwon FC | 38 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 56 | 63 | −7 | 48 | |
| 8 | Daegu FC | 38 | 10 | 16 | 12 | 52 | 59 | −7 | 46 | |
| 9 | FC Seoul | 38 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 43 | 47 | −4 | 46 | |
| 10 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings (O) | 38 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 44 | 49 | −5 | 44 | Qualification for relegation play-offs |
| 11 | Gimcheon Sangmu (R) | 38 | 8 | 14 | 16 | 45 | 48 | −3 | 38 | Qualification for relegation play-offs |
| 12 | Seongnam FC (R) | 38 | 7 | 9 | 22 | 37 | 70 | −33 | 30 | 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 | Gwangju FC (C, P) | 40 | 25 | 11 | 4 | 68 | 32 | +36 | 86 | Promotion to K League 1 |
| 2 | Daejeon Hana Citizen (O, P) | 40 | 21 | 11 | 8 | 70 | 45 | +25 | 74 | Qualification for promotion play-offs final round |
| 3 | FC Anyang | 40 | 19 | 12 | 9 | 52 | 41 | +11 | 69 | Qualification for promotion play-offs second round |
| 4 | Bucheon FC 1995 | 40 | 17 | 10 | 13 | 52 | 44 | +8 | 61 | Qualification for promotion play-offs first round |
| 5 | Gyeongnam FC | 40 | 16 | 8 | 16 | 60 | 61 | −1 | 56 | Qualification for promotion play-offs first round |
| 6 | Chungnam Asan | 40 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 39 | 44 | −5 | 52 | |
| 7 | Seoul E-Land | 40 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 46 | 47 | −1 | 48 | |
| 8 | Gimpo FC | 40 | 10 | 11 | 19 | 39 | 65 | −26 | 41 | |
| 9 | Ansan Greeners | 40 | 8 | 13 | 19 | 49 | 67 | −18 | 37 | |
| 10 | Busan IPark | 40 | 9 | 9 | 22 | 34 | 52 | −18 | 36 | |
| 11 | Jeonnam Dragons | 40 | 6 | 17 | 17 | 47 | 58 | −11 | 35 | |

#### 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 | FC Anyang | 0 | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | Gyeongnam FC | 0 | | | | | |
| 4 | Bucheon FC 1995 | 2 | 5 | Gyeongnam FC | 0 | | | | | |
| 5 | Gyeongnam FC | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Gyeongnam FC | 3 | | | | FC Anyang | FC Anyang | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| | | | | | | Suwon Samsung Bluewings (a.e.t.) | Suwon Samsung Bluewings (a.e.t.) | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| | | | | | | Final 2 | Final 2 | Final 2 | Final 2 | Final 2 |
| | | | | | | Daejeon Hana Citizen | Daejeon Hana Citizen | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| | | | | | | Gimcheon Sangmu | Gimcheon Sangmu | 1 | 0 | 1 |

### K3 League

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Changwon City (C) | 30 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 39 | 21 | +18 | 57 | |
| 2 | Paju Citizen | 30 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 43 | 29 | +14 | 56 | |
| 3 | Gyeongju KHNP | 30 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 44 | 26 | +18 | 53 | |
| 4 | Busan Transportation Corporation | 30 | 11 | 13 | 6 | 47 | 33 | +14 | 46 | |
| 5 | Siheung Citizen | 30 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 40 | 34 | +6 | 46 | |
| 6 | Hwaseong FC | 30 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 33 | 29 | +4 | 46 | |
| 7 | Gimhae FC | 30 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 33 | 26 | +7 | 45 | |
| 8 | Yangju Citizen | 30 | 12 | 5 | 13 | 30 | 29 | +1 | 41 | |
| 9 | Daejeon Korail | 30 | 12 | 5 | 13 | 28 | 36 | −8 | 41 | |
| 10 | Cheonan City (P) | 30 | 9 | 13 | 8 | 30 | 27 | +3 | 40 | Accepted to K League 2 |
| 11 | Pocheon Citizen | 30 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 40 | 36 | +4 | 39 | |
| 12 | Gangneung Citizen | 30 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 39 | 43 | −4 | 36 | |
| 13 | FC Mokpo | 30 | 9 | 4 | 17 | 24 | 45 | −21 | 31 | |
| 14 | Cheongju FC (P) | 30 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 21 | 41 | −20 | 30 | Accepted to K League 2 |
| 15 | Ulsan Citizen | 30 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 29 | 40 | −11 | 28 | |
| 16 | Dangjin Citizen (R) | 30 | 3 | 8 | 19 | 26 | 51 | −25 | 17 | Qualification for relegation play-off |

### K4 League
#### Regular season

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Goyang KH (C) | 32 | 22 | 2 | 8 | 71 | 40 | +31 | 68 | |
| 2 | Yangpyeong FC (P) | 32 | 19 | 7 | 6 | 49 | 30 | +19 | 64 | Promotion to K3 League |
| 3 | Chuncheon Citizen (O, P) | 32 | 18 | 7 | 7 | 55 | 31 | +24 | 61 | Qualification for promotion play-offs |
| 4 | Pyeongchang United | 32 | 17 | 4 | 11 | 47 | 40 | +7 | 55 | Qualification for promotion play-offs |
| 5 | Daejeon Hana Citizen B | 32 | 16 | 3 | 13 | 60 | 56 | +4 | 51 | |
| 6 | Gangwon FC B | 32 | 15 | 5 | 12 | 49 | 32 | +17 | 50 | |
| 7 | Seoul Nowon United | 32 | 15 | 4 | 13 | 56 | 45 | +11 | 49 | |
| 8 | Geoje Citizen | 32 | 13 | 7 | 12 | 44 | 45 | −1 | 46 | |
| 9 | Jeonju Citizen | 32 | 13 | 7 | 12 | 53 | 55 | −2 | 46 | |
| 10 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors B | 32 | 13 | 6 | 13 | 56 | 52 | +4 | 45 | |
| 11 | Jinju Citizen | 32 | 12 | 7 | 13 | 42 | 47 | −5 | 43 | |
| 12 | Daegu FC B | 32 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 42 | 44 | −2 | 37 | |
| 13 | Seoul Jungnang | 32 | 11 | 4 | 17 | 38 | 46 | −8 | 37 | |
| 14 | Pyeongtaek Citizen | 32 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 42 | 54 | −12 | 34 | |
| 15 | Chungju Citizen | 32 | 9 | 2 | 21 | 33 | 65 | −32 | 29 | |
| 16 | Yeoju FC | 32 | 8 | 3 | 21 | 36 | 57 | −21 | 27 | |
| 17 | FC Namdong | 32 | 7 | 5 | 20 | 29 | 69 | −40 | 26 | Withdrawal |
* ↑ Dissolved after the end of the season.
* ↑ Dissolved with 7 matches left.

#### Promotion play-offs

| First round | First round | First round | Final | Final | Final |
| | | | K3 | Dangjin Citizen | 0 |
| 3 | Chuncheon Citizen | 0 | K4 | Chuncheon Citizen | 2 |
| 4 | Pyeongchang United | 0 | | | |

### WK League
#### Regular season

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels | 21 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 44 | 13 | +31 | 52 | Qualification for play-offs final |
| 2 | Gyeongju KHNP | 21 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 46 | 21 | +25 | 49 | Qualification for play-offs semi-final |
| 3 | Suwon FC | 21 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 39 | 27 | +12 | 37 | Qualification for play-offs semi-final |
| 4 | Hwacheon KSPO | 21 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 36 | 25 | +11 | 34 | |
| 5 | Seoul WFC | 21 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 32 | 43 | −11 | 22 | |
| 6 | Boeun Sangmu | 21 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 16 | 35 | −19 | 16 | |
| 7 | Changnyeong WFC | 21 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 20 | 42 | −22 | 16 | |
| 8 | Sejong Sportstoto | 21 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 18 | 45 | −27 | 9 | |

#### Championship play-offs

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

#### Final table

| Pos | Team | Qualification |
| 1 | Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels (C) | Qualification for AFC Club Championship |
| 2 | Gyeongju KHNP | |
| 3 | Suwon FC | |

## 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) |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Ulsan Citizen | Ulsan Citizen | Ulsan Citizen | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Ulsan Citizen | Ulsan Citizen | Ulsan Citizen | 0 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 0 | | | | |
| Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 2 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 0 | | | | |
| Gangwon FC | Gangwon FC | Gangwon FC | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Gangwon FC | Gangwon FC | Gangwon FC | 0 | | | | | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (a.e.t.) | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (a.e.t.) | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (a.e.t.) | 020 |
| | | | | | | | | Ulsan Hyundai | Ulsan Hyundai | Ulsan Hyundai | 1 |
| Ulsan Hyundai | Ulsan Hyundai | Ulsan Hyundai | 2 | | | | | Ulsan Hyundai | Ulsan Hyundai | Ulsan Hyundai | 1 |
| Gyeongnam FC | Gyeongnam FC | Gyeongnam FC | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Gyeongnam FC | Gyeongnam FC | Gyeongnam FC | 0 | Ulsan Hyundai (p) | Ulsan Hyundai (p) | Ulsan Hyundai (p) | 1 (6) | | | | |
| | | | | Bucheon FC 1995 | Bucheon FC 1995 | Bucheon FC 1995 | 1 (5) | | | | |
| Bucheon FC 1995 | Bucheon FC 1995 | Bucheon FC 1995 | 2 | Bucheon FC 1995 | Bucheon FC 1995 | Bucheon FC 1995 | 1 (5) | | | | |
| Gwangju FC | Gwangju FC | Gwangju FC | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Gwangju FC | Gwangju FC | Gwangju FC | 1 | | | | | | | | | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 020 | 030 | 050 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | FC Seoul | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| FC Seoul | FC Seoul | FC Seoul | 3 | | | | | | | | | FC Seoul | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Jeju United | Jeju United | Jeju United | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jeju United | Jeju United | Jeju United | 1 | FC Seoul | FC Seoul | FC Seoul | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Busan Transportation Corporation | Busan Transportation Corporation | Busan Transportation Corporation | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Busan Transportation Corporation (p) | Busan Transportation Corporation (p) | Busan Transportation Corporation (p) | 2 (5) | Busan Transportation Corporation | Busan Transportation Corporation | Busan Transportation Corporation | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Jeonnam Dragons | Jeonnam Dragons | Jeonnam Dragons | 2 (4) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jeonnam Dragons | Jeonnam Dragons | Jeonnam Dragons | 2 (4) | | | | | FC Seoul (a.e.t.) | FC Seoul (a.e.t.) | FC Seoul (a.e.t.) | 1 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | Daegu FC | Daegu FC | Daegu FC | 0 |
| Daegu FC (p) | Daegu FC (p) | Daegu FC (p) | 3 (5) | | | | | Daegu FC | Daegu FC | Daegu FC | 0 |
| Daejeon Korail | Daejeon Korail | Daejeon Korail | 3 (4) | | | | | | | | |
| Daejeon Korail | Daejeon Korail | Daejeon Korail | 3 (4) | Daegu FC | Daegu FC | Daegu FC | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | Pohang Steelers | Pohang Steelers | Pohang Steelers | 2 | | | | |
| Pohang Steelers | Pohang Steelers | Pohang Steelers | 2 | Pohang Steelers | Pohang Steelers | Pohang Steelers | 2 | | | | |
| Seongnam FC | Seongnam FC | Seongnam FC | 1 | | | | | | | | |

## International cups
### AFC Champions League

| Team | Result | Round | Aggregate | Score | Opponent |
| Daegu FC | Round of 16 | Qualifying play-offs | 1–1 (3–2 p) | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | Buriram United |
| Daegu FC | Round of 16 | Group F | Winners | 7–0 | Shandong Taishan |
| Daegu FC | Round of 16 | Group F | Winners | 4–0 | Shandong Taishan |
| Daegu FC | Round of 16 | Group F | Winners | 0–3 | Lion City Sailors |
| Daegu FC | Round of 16 | Group F | Winners | 2–1 | Lion City Sailors |
| Daegu FC | Round of 16 | Group F | Winners | 1–0 | Urawa Red Diamonds |
| Daegu FC | Round of 16 | Group F | Winners | 0–0 | Urawa Red Diamonds |
| Daegu FC | Round of 16 | Round of 16 | 1–2 | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Semi-finals | Group H | Runners-up | 0–0 | Sydney FC |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Semi-finals | Group H | Runners-up | 3–2 | Sydney FC |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Semi-finals | Group H | Runners-up | 1–0 | Yokohama F. Marinos |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Semi-finals | Group H | Runners-up | 1–1 | Yokohama F. Marinos |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Semi-finals | Group H | Runners-up | 1–0 | Hoang Anh Gia Lai |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Semi-finals | Group H | Runners-up | 1–1 | Hoang Anh Gia Lai |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Semi-finals | Round of 16 | 2–1 | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Daegu FC |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Semi-finals | Quarter-finals | 3–1 | 3–1 (a.e.t.) | Vissel Kobe |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | 2–2 (1–3 p) | 2–2 (a.e.t.) | Urawa Red Diamonds |
| Jeonnam Dragons | Group stage | Group G | Third place | 1–0 | United City |
| Jeonnam Dragons | Group stage | Group G | Third place | 2–0 | United City |
| Jeonnam Dragons | Group stage | Group G | Third place | 0–2 | BG Pathum United |
| Jeonnam Dragons | Group stage | Group G | Third place | 0–0 | BG Pathum United |
| Jeonnam Dragons | Group stage | Group G | Third place | 1–2 | Melbourne City |
| Jeonnam Dragons | Group stage | Group G | Third place | 1–1 | Melbourne City |
| Ulsan Hyundai | Group stage | Qualifying play-offs | 3–0 | 3–0 | Port |
| Ulsan Hyundai | Group stage | Group I | Third place | 1–1 | Kawasaki Frontale |
| Ulsan Hyundai | Group stage | Group I | Third place | 3–2 | Kawasaki Frontale |
| Ulsan Hyundai | Group stage | Group I | Third place | 1–2 | Johor Darul Ta'zim |
| Ulsan Hyundai | Group stage | Group I | Third place | 1–2 | Johor Darul Ta'zim |
| Ulsan Hyundai | Group stage | Group I | Third place | 3–0 | Guangzhou |
| Ulsan Hyundai | Group stage | Group I | Third place | 5–0 | Guangzhou |