Summary
The K League 1 (KOR1) is the top level of league-style football competition in South Korea. At the end of the 2024 KOR1 season, the KOR1 teams listed below qualify for the following non-league play:
- 2025-2026 AFC Champions League Elite- Group Stage:
- 1st place 2024 KOR1 Championship group team
- 025-2026 AFC Champions Elite League - Playoff Round:
- 2nd place 2024 KOR1 Championship group team
- 025-2026 AFC Champions League 2 - Group Stage:
- 3rd place 2024 KOR1 Championship group team
The winner of the 2024 Korean FA Cup, typically a KOR1 team, also receives a berth in the Group Stage of the 025-2026 AFC Champions League 2.
Leagues Pyramid - Korea Republic
| Abbrev | League | # of Teams |
|---|---|---|
| KOR1 | K League 1 | 12 |
| KOR2 | K League 2 | 13 |
Competition Structure
Season | # of Teams | ||
| Regular 1 Mar 2024 - 6 Oct 2024 | Champ/Releg Rounds 9 Oct 2024 - 3 Dec 2024 | 12: KOR1 (9 minimum), KOR2 (3 maximum) | |
Season Format
In the 2024 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 2024 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, and the 4th place KOR1 Relegation Group team will have a Home-Away Promotion/Relegation Playoff with the KOR2 Promotion Playoff winner.
More Info...
1st Stage
| League | Home | Road | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
| 1 | Pohang Steelers | 8 | 5 -2-1 | 17 | - | 13 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 2 -2-0 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 -0-1 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 4 |
| 2 | Gimcheon Sangmu FC | 8 | 5 -1-2 | 16 | - | 13 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 2 -0-1 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 3 -1-1 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 2 |
| 3 | Ulsan Hyundai FC | 7 | 4 -2-1 | 14 | - | 16 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 3 -1-0 | 10 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 1 -1-1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | -1 |
| 4 | Gangwon FC | 8 | 3 -3-2 | 12 | - | 15 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 2 -2-0 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 1 -1-2 | 4 | 6 | 11 | -5 |
| 5 | Suwon FC | 8 | 3 -3-2 | 12 | - | 8 | 11 | -3 | 4 | 2 -1-1 | 7 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 4 | 1 -2-1 | 5 | 3 | 5 | -2 |
| 6 | Jeju United FC | 8 | 3 -1-4 | 10 | - | 8 | 10 | -2 | 4 | 2 -0-2 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 -1-2 | 4 | 3 | 5 | -2 |
| 7 | FC Seoul | 8 | 2 -3-3 | 9 | - | 12 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 2 -1-2 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 0 -2-1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | -2 |
| 8 | Jeonbuk Motors | 8 | 2 -3-3 | 9 | - | 11 | 13 | -2 | 4 | 1 -2-1 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 1 -1-2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | -2 |
| 9 | Incheon United | 8 | 2 -3-3 | 9 | - | 10 | 12 | -2 | 4 | 1 -1-2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 -2-1 | 5 | 7 | 9 | -2 |
| 10 | Daegu FC | 8 | 1 -4-3 | 7 | - | 5 | 10 | -5 | 4 | 0 -3-1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 4 | 1 -1-2 | 4 | 4 | 8 | -4 |
| 11 | Gwangju FC | 7 | 2 -0-5 | 6 | - | 11 | 12 | -1 | 4 | 2 -0-2 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 0 -0-3 | 0 | 2 | 5 | -3 |
| 12 | Daejeon Citizen FC | 8 | 1 -3-4 | 6 | - | 6 | 10 | -4 | 3 | 1 -1-1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0 -2-3 | 2 | 2 | 7 | -5 |
Championship Round Relegation Round | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fixtures
 | FC Seoul | Daejeon World Cup Stadium |
 | Suwon FC | Gwangju Football Stadium |
 | Gangwon FC | Gimcheon Stadium |
 | Incheon United | Pohang Steel Yard |
 | Daegu FC | Jeonju World Cup Stadium |
 | Jeju United FC | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium |
| Gimcheon Sangmu FC | Daejeon World Cup Stadium |
| Ulsan Hyundai FC | DGB Daegu Bank Park |
| Jeonbuk Motors | Incheon Football Stadium |
| Gwangju FC | Jeju World Cup Stadium |
| Pohang Steelers | Chuncheon Songam Stadium |
| Ulsan Hyundai FC | Sangam Stadium |
| Jeonbuk Motors | Pohang Steel Yard |
| Gangwon FC | Suwon Stadium |
| Incheon United | Gimcheon Stadium |
| Daegu FC | Jeju World Cup Stadium |
| Daejeon Citizen FC | Gwangju Football Stadium |
| FC Seoul | Incheon Football Stadium |
| Gwangju FC | DGB Daegu Bank Park |
Results
| 00 | Daejeon Citizen FC | DGB Daegu Bank Park |
| 41 | Incheon United | Chuncheon Songam Stadium |
| 23 | Jeonbuk Motors | Sangam Stadium |
| 00 | Gimcheon Sangmu FC | Pohang Steel Yard |
| 21 | Jeju United FC | Suwon Stadium |
| 11 | Daegu FC | Incheon Football Stadium |
| 10 | Daejeon Citizen FC | Suwon Stadium |
| 02 | Gimcheon Sangmu FC | Jeju World Cup Stadium |
| 40 | Gangwon FC | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium |
| 24 | Pohang Steelers | Sangam Stadium |
| 21 | Gwangju FC | Jeonju World Cup Stadium |
| 12 | Pohang Steelers | Daejeon World Cup Stadium |
| 23 | Gangwon FC | Jeonju World Cup Stadium |
| 21 | Gwangju FC | Gimcheon Stadium |
| 01 | Jeju United FC | Incheon Football Stadium |
| 30 | Suwon FC | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium |
| 30 | Daegu FC | Chuncheon Songam Stadium |
| 20 | Jeonbuk Motors | Jeju World Cup Stadium |
| 51 | Gimcheon Sangmu FC | Sangam Stadium |