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 | 10 | 7 -1-2 | 22 | - | 19 | 8 | 11 | 5 | 3 -0-2 | 9 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 4 -1-0 | 13 | 8 | 4 | 4 |
| 2 | Jeonbuk Motors | 11 | 5 -3-3 | 18 | - | 15 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 3 -0-2 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 2 -3-1 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| 3 | Ulsan HD FC | 10 | 5 -2-3 | 17 | - | 16 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 2 -1-2 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 3 -1-1 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| 4 | Gangwon FC | 11 | 4 -4-3 | 16 | - | 14 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 1 -3-1 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 3 -1-2 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| 5 | Daejeon Citizen FC | 11 | 4 -3-4 | 15 | - | 16 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 0 -2-3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 6 | 4 -1-1 | 13 | 14 | 4 | 10 |
| 6 | Pohang Steelers | 11 | 4 -3-4 | 15 | - | 8 | 9 | -1 | 8 | 3 -2-3 | 11 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 3 | 1 -1-1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 7 | FC Anyang | 11 | 3 -5-3 | 14 | - | 14 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 1 -2-2 | 5 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 6 | 2 -3-1 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 3 |
| 8 | Incheon United | 11 | 4 -2-5 | 14 | - | 14 | 16 | -2 | 6 | 2 -0-4 | 6 | 6 | 9 | -3 | 5 | 2 -2-1 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 1 |
| 9 | Gimcheon Sangmu FC | 11 | 2 -7-2 | 13 | - | 12 | 13 | -1 | 5 | 0 -4-1 | 4 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 6 | 2 -3-1 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 2 |
| 10 | Bucheon FC 1995 | 11 | 3 -4-4 | 13 | - | 9 | 13 | -4 | 5 | 0 -3-2 | 3 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 6 | 3 -1-2 | 10 | 5 | 6 | -1 |
| 11 | Jeju SK FC | 11 | 3 -3-5 | 12 | - | 8 | 11 | -3 | 6 | 1 -2-3 | 5 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 5 | 2 -1-2 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| 12 | Gwangju FC | 11 | 1 -3-7 | 6 | - | 7 | 28 | -21 | 5 | 1 -1-3 | 4 | 5 | 13 | -8 | 6 | 0 -2-4 | 2 | 2 | 15 | -13 |
2027-2028 AFCCL Relegation Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fixtures
 | Jeju SK FC | Bucheon Stadium |
 | Gwangju FC | Jeonju World Cup Stadium |
 | Incheon United | Daejeon World Cup Stadium |
 | Pohang Steelers | Gangneung Stadium |
 | Ulsan HD FC | Gimcheon Stadium |
| FC Seoul | Jeju World Cup Stadium |
| Incheon United | Gimcheon Stadium |
| Gangwon FC | Gwangju World Cup Stadium |
| Pohang Steelers | Daejeon World Cup Stadium |
| Bucheon FC 1995 | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium |
 | Jeonbuk Motors | Anyang Stadium |
| Daejeon Citizen FC | Gangneung Stadium |
| FC Seoul | Gwangju World Cup Stadium |
| Pohang Steelers | Incheon Football Stadium |
| Gimcheon Sangmu FC | Anyang Stadium |
| Jeonbuk Motors | Bucheon Stadium |
| Jeju SK FC | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium |
| FC Seoul | Daejeon World Cup Stadium |
| Gwangju FC | Incheon Football Stadium |
Results
| 05 | Daejeon Citizen FC | Gwangju World Cup Stadium |
| 01 | Bucheon FC 1995 | Anyang Stadium |
| 02 | Jeonbuk Motors | Jeju World Cup Stadium |
| 01 | Gangwon FC | Incheon Football Stadium |
| 01 | Pohang Steelers | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium |
| 23 | Gimcheon Sangmu FC | Sangam Stadium |
| 14 | Daejeon Citizen FC | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium |
| 25 | FC Anyang | Gwangju World Cup Stadium |
| 32 | Pohang Steelers | Jeonju World Cup Stadium |
| 10 | Jeju SK FC | Incheon Football Stadium |
| 02 | Gimcheon Sangmu FC | Bucheon Stadium |
| 12 | FC Seoul | Gangneung Stadium |
| 10 | Gwangju FC | Pohang Steel Yard |
| 01 | Jeju SK FC | Daejeon World Cup Stadium |
| 11 | Ulsan HD FC | Anyang Stadium |
| 30 | Bucheon FC 1995 | Sangam Stadium |
| 12 | Incheon United | Jeonju World Cup Stadium |
| 03 | Gangwon FC | Gimcheon Stadium |
| 01 | FC Anyang | Pohang Steel Yard |
| 51 | Gwangju FC | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium |