Summary
The 2026 K League 1 (KOR1) (aka Hana Bank K League 1) is the top level of league-style football competition in South Korea. At the end of the 2026 KOR1 season, the KOR1 teams listed below qualify for the following non-league play:
- 2027-2028 AFC Champions League Elite- Group Stage:
- 1st and 2nd place 2026 KOR1 teams
- 2027-2028 AFC Champions Elite League - Playoff Round:
- 3rd place 2026 KOR1 teams
- 2027-2028 AFC Champions League 2 - Group Stage:
- 3rd place 2026 KOR1 team
The winner of the 2026 Korean FA Cup, typically a KOR1 team, also receives a berth in the Group Stage of the 2027-2028 AFC Champions League 2.
Leagues Pyramid - Korea Republic
| Abbrev | League | # of Teams |
|---|---|---|
| KOR1 | K League 1 | 12 |
| KOR2 | K League 2 | 14 |
Competition Structure
Season | # of Teams | ||
| 28 Feb 2026 - 6 Dec 2026 | 12: KOR1 (10 minimum), KOR2 (2 maximum) | ||
Season Format
In the 2026 KOR1 Regular season, each KOR1 team plays the other 11 KOR1 teams 3 times for a total of 33 league matches per team. In each 3 match series, one team hosts 2 home matches and the other team hosts 1 home match. Table ranking ties are broken by (1) goals scored, (2) goal difference, (3) matches won, then (4) head-to-head points.
Gimcheon Sangmu is a military-owned team and cannot qualify for AFC competitions.They will be relegated to the KOR2 for the 2027 season regardless of their final table position.
Playoffs
Not applicable.
Relegation
At the end of the 2026 KOR1 Regular season, the 12th place KOR1 team will have a Home-Away Promotion/Relegation Playoff with the 2nd place KOR2 team.
More Info...
Table
| 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 | FC Seoul | 5 | 4 -1-0 | 13 | - | 11 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 3 -1-0 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| 2 | Jeonbuk Motors | 6 | 3 -2-1 | 11 | - | 8 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 -0-1 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 -2-0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 3 | Ulsan HD FC | 5 | 3 -1-1 | 10 | - | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 -1-0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 -0-1 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 4 | Pohang Steelers | 6 | 2 -3-1 | 9 | - | 4 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 2 -2-1 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 -1-0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | Incheon United | 6 | 2 -1-3 | 7 | - | 8 | 10 | -2 | 3 | 1 -0-2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 3 | 1 -1-1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 6 | Gangwon FC | 6 | 1 -3-2 | 6 | - | 6 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 1 -2-0 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 -1-2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -3 |
| 7 | Daejeon Citizen FC | 6 | 1 -3-2 | 6 | - | 6 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 -2-1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 3 | 1 -1-1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 8 | FC Anyang | 6 | 1 -3-2 | 6 | - | 6 | 7 | -1 | 3 | 1 -1-1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 -2-1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -1 |
| 9 | Bucheon FC 1995 | 6 | 1 -3-2 | 6 | - | 5 | 6 | -1 | 3 | 0 -2-1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 3 | 1 -1-1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 10 | Gwangju FC | 6 | 1 -3-2 | 6 | - | 4 | 11 | -7 | 2 | 1 -1-0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 -2-2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | -8 |
| 11 | Gimcheon Sangmu FC | 6 | 0 -5-1 | 5 | - | 5 | 6 | -1 | 3 | 0 -3-0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 -2-1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | -1 |
| 12 | Jeju SK FC | 6 | 1 -2-3 | 5 | - | 4 | 7 | -3 | 4 | 1 -1-2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 2 | 0 -1-1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 |
2027-2028 AFCCL Relegation Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fixtures
 | Jeju SK FC | Pohang Steel Yard |
 | Jeonbuk Motors | Sangam Stadium |
 | Bucheon FC 1995 | Gwangju World Cup Stadium |
 | Ulsan HD FC | Incheon Football Stadium |
 | Gangwon FC | Daejeon World Cup Stadium |
 | FC Anyang | Gimcheon Stadium |
| Jeonbuk Motors | Gangneung Stadium |
| Daejeon Citizen FC | Sangam Stadium |
| Incheon United | Bucheon Stadium |
| Gimcheon Sangmu FC | Jeju World Cup Stadium |
| Gwangju FC | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium |
| FC Anyang | Pohang Steel Yard |
| Gangwon FC | Gimcheon Stadium |
| Incheon United | Jeonju World Cup Stadium |
| Bucheon FC 1995 | Sangam Stadium |
| Ulsan HD FC | Anyang Stadium |
| Jeju SK FC | Daejeon World Cup Stadium |
| Gwangju FC | Pohang Steel Yard |
| FC Seoul | Gangneung Stadium |
| Gimcheon Sangmu FC | Bucheon Stadium |
Results
| 21 | Gimcheon Sangmu FC | Incheon Football Stadium |
| 10 | Daejeon Citizen FC | Pohang Steel Yard |
| 30 | Gwangju FC | Gangneung Stadium |
| 20 | Ulsan HD FC | Jeonju World Cup Stadium |
| 10 | Bucheon FC 1995 | Jeju World Cup Stadium |
| 10 | Gangwon FC | Pohang Steel Yard |
| 00 | Bucheon FC 1995 | Pohang Steel Yard |
| 11 | Jeju SK FC | Gangneung Stadium |
| 01 | Incheon United | Anyang Stadium |
| 00 | Gimcheon Sangmu FC | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium |
| 50 | Gwangju FC | Sangam Stadium |
| 01 | Jeonbuk Motors | Daejeon World Cup Stadium |
| 01 | FC Seoul | Pohang Steel Yard |
| 21 | FC Anyang | Jeonju World Cup Stadium |
| 02 | Ulsan HD FC | Jeju World Cup Stadium |
| 13 | Daejeon Citizen FC | Incheon Football Stadium |
| 00 | Gangwon FC | Bucheon Stadium |
| 11 | Gwangju FC | Gimcheon Stadium |
| 11 | Incheon United | Pohang Steel Yard |