K League 1
FIFA Region
AFC
Season
2021
Location
Korea Republic
Abbreviation
KOR1

Summary

The K League 1 (KOR1) is the top level of league-style football competition in South Korea. At the end of the 2021 KOR1 season, the KOR1 teams listed below qualify for the following non-league play:

  • 2022 AFC Champions League - Group Stage:
    • 1st place 2021 KOR1 team from the Championship group
  • 2022 AFC Champions League - Playoff Round:
    • 2nd and 3rd place 2021 KOR1 teams from the Championship group

The winner of the 2021 Korean FA Cup, typically a KOR1 team, also receives a berth in the Group Stage of the 2022 AFC Champions League.

Leagues Pyramid - Korea Republic

Abbrev League # of Teams
KOR1 K League 1 12
KOR2 K League 2 10

Competition Structure

Season

# of Teams

Regular
27 Feb 2021 - 23 Oct 2021
Champ/Releg Rounds
28 Oct 2021 - 7 Nov 2021
 12: KOR1 (10 minimum), KOR2 (2 maximum)

Season Format

In the 2021 KOR1 Regular season, each KOR1 team plays the other 11 KOR1 teams 3 times for a total of 33 league matches. In each 3 match series, one team hosts 2 home matches and the other team hosts 1 home match. After the Regular season, the top 6 teams play each other once in the Championship Group (5 more matches), and the bottom 6 teams play each other once in the Relegation Group (5 more matches). Table ranking ties are broken by (1) goals scored, (2) goal difference, (3) league matches won, then (4) head-to-head points.

Playoffs

Not applicable.

Relegation

At the end of the 2021 Relegation Group play, the 6th place KOR1 Relegation Group team is relegated directly to KOR2. The 5th place KOR1 Relegation Group team will have a Home-Away Promotion/Relegation Playoff with the 2nd place KOR2 team. The winner of this playoff plays in the 2022 KOR1 and the loser plays in the 2022 KOR2.


More Info...


Championship/Relegation Rounds

 LeagueHomeRoad
POSMPW - D - LPTSCPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGD
Championship
1Jeonbuk Motors 3822 -10-676-7137341913 -3-342382018199 -7-334331716
2Ulsan Hyundai FC 3821 -11-674-6441231913 -5-144381919198 -6-53026224
3Daegu FC 3815 -10-1355-4148-7198 -6-5302123-2197 -4-8252025-5
4Jeju United FC 3813 -15-1054-52448187 -6-52724240206 -9-52728208
5Suwon FC 3814 -9-1551-5357-4199 -3-73028280195 -6-8212529-4
6Suwon Bluewings 3812 -10-1646-4250-8195 -6-8212129-8197 -4-82521210
Relegation
1FC Seoul 3812 -11-1547-46460195 -6-8212122-1197 -5-72625241
2Incheon United 3812 -11-1547-3845-7197 -6-62717143195 -5-9202131-10
3Pohang Steelers 3812 -10-1646-4145-4206 -5-9232124-3186 -5-7232021-1
4Seongnam FC 3811 -11-1644-3446-12198 -5-62919190193 -6-10151527-12
5Gangwon FC 3810 -13-1543-4051-11197 -8-42925196193 -5-11141532-17
6Gwangju FC 3810 -7-2137-4254-12195 -5-9202327-4195 -2-12171927-8
2022 AFCCL
Relegation Playoff
Relegation to KOR2

1st Stage

 LeagueHomeRoad
POSMPW - D - LPTSCPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGD
1Jeonbuk Motors 3318 -10-564-5832261711 -3-336331815167 -7-228251411
2Ulsan Hyundai FC 3318 -10-564-5435191610 -5-135301614178 -5-42924195
3Daegu FC 3313 -10-1049-37370167 -6-32719154176 -4-7221822-4
4Jeju United FC 3310 -15-845-43394165 -6-5212124-3175 -9-32422157
5Suwon Bluewings 3312 -9-1245-41401175 -5-7202125-4167 -4-52520155
6Suwon FC 3312 -9-1245-4549-4167 -3-6242224-2175 -6-6212325-2
7Pohang Steelers 3311 -9-1342-3540-5175 -5-7201520-5166 -4-62220200
8Incheon United 3311 -7-1540-3342-9176 -5-62315141165 -2-9171828-10
9FC Seoul 339 -10-1437-3740-3174 -5-8171822-4165 -5-62019181
10Gangwon FC 339 -10-1437-3543-8176 -7-42522175163 -3-10121326-13
11Seongnam FC 339 -10-1437-3040-10166 -4-6221618-2173 -6-8151422-8
12Gwangju FC 339 -5-1932-3445-11165 -3-8181720-3174 -2-11141725-8
Championship Round
Relegation Round

Results

Sun - 5 Dec 2021
 Ulsan Hyundai FC 20 Daegu FCUlsan Munsu Football Stadium
 Jeonbuk Motors 20 Jeju United FCJeonju World Cup Stadium
 Suwon FC 20 Suwon BluewingsSuwon World Cup Stadium
Sat - 4 Dec 2021
 Gwangju FC 11 Incheon UnitedGwangju Football Stadium
 Gangwon FC 21 Seongnam FCChuncheon Songam Stadium
 Pohang Steelers 12 FC SeoulPohang Steel Yard
Sun - 28 Nov 2021
 FC Seoul 00 Gangwon FCSeoul Olympic Stadium
 Incheon United 00 Pohang SteelersIncheon Football Stadium
 Suwon Bluewings 00 Ulsan Hyundai FCSuwon World Cup Stadium
 Daegu FC 02 Jeonbuk MotorsDGB Arena (Daegu)
Sat - 27 Nov 2021
 Seongnam FC 10 Gwangju FCTancheon Sports Complex
 Jeju United FC 10 Suwon FCJeju World Cup Stadium
Sun - 21 Nov 2021
 Daegu FC 21 Suwon BluewingsDGB Arena (Daegu)
 Ulsan Hyundai FC 31 Jeju United FCUlsan Munsu Football Stadium
 Suwon FC 32 Jeonbuk MotorsSuwon World Cup Stadium
Sun - 7 Nov 2021
 FC Seoul 30 Seongnam FCSeoul Olympic Stadium
 Gangwon FC 11 Incheon UnitedChuncheon Songam Stadium
 Pohang Steelers 12 Gwangju FCPohang Steel Yard
Sat - 6 Nov 2021
 Jeonbuk Motors 32 Ulsan Hyundai FCJeonju World Cup Stadium
 Suwon FC 12 Daegu FCSuwon World Cup Stadium