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 | 22 | 13 -5-4 | 44 | - | 35 | 17 | 18 | 10 | 5 -2-3 | 17 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 8 -3-1 | 27 | 19 | 9 | 10 |
| 2 | Ulsan HD FC | 22 | 11 -4-7 | 37 | - | 35 | 30 | 5 | 11 | 5 -1-5 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 11 | 6 -3-2 | 21 | 17 | 12 | 5 |
| 3 | Jeonbuk Motors | 22 | 9 -7-6 | 34 | - | 28 | 19 | 9 | 11 | 5 -2-4 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 4 | 11 | 4 -5-2 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 5 |
| 4 | Gangwon FC | 21 | 8 -8-5 | 32 | - | 25 | 17 | 8 | 10 | 4 -4-2 | 16 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 11 | 4 -4-3 | 16 | 11 | 8 | 3 |
| 5 | Jeju SK FC | 22 | 8 -7-7 | 31 | - | 25 | 24 | 1 | 12 | 3 -5-4 | 14 | 12 | 15 | -3 | 10 | 5 -2-3 | 17 | 13 | 9 | 4 |
| 6 | FC Anyang | 22 | 7 -9-6 | 30 | - | 30 | 28 | 2 | 11 | 2 -5-4 | 11 | 13 | 15 | -2 | 11 | 5 -4-2 | 19 | 17 | 13 | 4 |
| 7 | Incheon United | 21 | 8 -5-8 | 29 | - | 28 | 24 | 4 | 11 | 4 -1-6 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 4 -4-2 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 4 |
| 8 | Pohang Steelers | 22 | 8 -4-10 | 28 | - | 20 | 24 | -4 | 11 | 3 -2-6 | 11 | 4 | 10 | -6 | 11 | 5 -2-4 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 2 |
| 9 | Daejeon Citizen FC | 22 | 6 -8-8 | 26 | - | 27 | 24 | 3 | 11 | 1 -5-5 | 8 | 9 | 14 | -5 | 11 | 5 -3-3 | 18 | 18 | 10 | 8 |
| 10 | Bucheon FC 1995 | 22 | 5 -9-8 | 24 | - | 21 | 25 | -4 | 11 | 1 -5-5 | 8 | 9 | 14 | -5 | 11 | 4 -4-3 | 16 | 12 | 11 | 1 |
| 11 | Gimcheon Sangmu FC | 22 | 4 -12-6 | 24 | - | 22 | 28 | -6 | 11 | 1 -7-3 | 10 | 10 | 16 | -6 | 11 | 3 -5-3 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 12 | Gwangju FC | 22 | 1 -8-13 | 11 | - | 11 | 47 | -36 | 11 | 1 -4-6 | 7 | 8 | 21 | -13 | 11 | 0 -4-7 | 4 | 3 | 26 | -23 |
2027-2028 AFCCL Relegation Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fixtures
 | Pohang Steelers | Gwangju World Cup Stadium |
 | FC Anyang | Jeju World Cup Stadium |
 | Daejeon Citizen FC | Sangam Stadium |
 | Jeonbuk Motors | Bucheon Stadium |
 | Gimcheon Sangmu FC | Incheon Football Stadium |
 | Gangwon FC | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium |
| Gimcheon Sangmu FC | Jeju World Cup Stadium |
| Ulsan HD FC | Jeonju World Cup Stadium |
| Bucheon FC 1995 | Pohang Steel Yard |
| Gangwon FC | Daejeon World Cup Stadium |
| Incheon United | Gwangju World Cup Stadium |
| Jeonbuk Motors | Gimcheon Stadium |
| Pohang Steelers | Jeju World Cup Stadium |
| Bucheon FC 1995 | Sangam Stadium |
| Incheon United | Anyang Stadium |
| Ulsan HD FC | Daejeon World Cup Stadium |
| Gwangju FC | Gangneung Stadium |
| Gimcheon Sangmu FC | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium |
| FC Anyang | Bucheon Stadium |
Results
| 02 | Ulsan HD FC | Pohang Steel Yard |
| 13 | Jeju SK FC | Jeonju World Cup Stadium |
| 00 | FC Seoul | Gimcheon Stadium |
| 00 | Gwangju FC | Bucheon Stadium |
| 12 | Daejeon Citizen FC | Anyang Stadium |
| 31 | FC Anyang | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium |
| 33 | Incheon United | Jeju World Cup Stadium |
| 20 | Gwangju FC | Daejeon World Cup Stadium |
| 01 | Gimcheon Sangmu FC | Pohang Steel Yard |
| 00 | FC Seoul | Jeonju World Cup Stadium |
| 03 | Bucheon FC 1995 | Gangneung Stadium |
| 13 | Ulsan HD FC | Sangam Stadium |
| 11 | Bucheon FC 1995 | Incheon Football Stadium |
| 12 | Jeju SK FC | Gwangju World Cup Stadium |
| 21 | Gangwon FC | Anyang Stadium |
| 02 | Jeonbuk Motors | Pohang Steel Yard |
| 32 | Daejeon Citizen FC | Gimcheon Stadium |
| 31 | Pohang Steelers | Sangam Stadium |
| 11 | Gimcheon Sangmu FC | Gwangju World Cup Stadium |
| 23 | FC Anyang | Bucheon Stadium |