2023 K League 1
Season | 2023 |
---|---|
Dates | 25 February – 3 December 2023 |
Champions | Ulsan Hyundai (4th title) |
Relegated | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
Champions League Elite | Ulsan Hyundai Pohang Steelers Gwangju FC |
Champions League 2 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
Matches played | 174 |
Goals scored | 447 (2.57 per match) |
Best Player | Kim Young-gwon |
Top goalscorer | Joo Min-kyu Tiago Orobó (17 goals each) |
Biggest home win | Gwangju 5–0 Incheon (18 March 2023) |
Biggest away win | Suwon FC 0–5 Jeju (14 May 2023) |
Highest scoring | Seoul 7–2 Suwon FC (12 July 2023) |
Longest winning run | 6 matches Ulsan Hyundai |
Longest unbeaten run | 9 matches Gwangju FC Pohang Steelers |
Longest winless run | 15 matches Gangwon FC |
Longest losing run | 5 matches Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
Highest attendance | 45,007 Seoul 3–0 Daegu (8 April 2023) |
← 2022 2024 → |
The 2023 K League 1, also known as the Hana 1Q K League 1 for sponsorship reasons, was the 41st season of the top division of professional football in South Korea, and the eleventh season of the K League 1. Defending champions Ulsan Hyundai successfully defended their title.[1]
After progressing 33 regular rounds as ever, the league was divided into two groups, the top six and the bottom six, and each team played five matches against other teams in its group.
Teams[edit]
Team changes[edit]
Gwangju FC and Daejeon Hana Citizen (both promoted after absences of one and seven years, respectively) were promoted from the 2022 K League 2. Gimcheon Sangmu and Seongnam FC (both relegated after one and four years in the top flight, respectively) were relegated to 2023 K League 2.
Promoted from K League 2 | Relegated to K League 2 |
---|---|
Locations[edit]
The following twelve clubs competed in the K League 1 during the 2023 season.[2]
Team | City/Province | Abbreviation |
---|---|---|
Daegu FC | Daegu | Daegu |
Daejeon Hana Citizen | Daejeon | Daejeon |
Gangwon FC | Gangwon | Gangwon |
Gwangju FC | Gwangju | Gwangju |
Incheon United | Incheon | Incheon |
Jeju United | Jeju | Jeju |
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Jeonbuk | Jeonbuk |
Pohang Steelers | Pohang | Pohang |
FC Seoul | Seoul | Seoul |
Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Suwon | Suwon |
Suwon FC | Suwon | Suwon FC |
Ulsan Hyundai | Ulsan | Ulsan |
Stadiums[edit]
Jeju United | Daegu FC | Incheon United |
---|---|---|
Jeju World Cup Stadium | DGB Daegu Bank Park | Incheon Football Stadium |
Capacity: 29,791 | Capacity: 12,415 | Capacity: 20,891 |
Pohang Steelers | Suwon FC | Daejeon Hana Citizen |
Pohang Steel Yard | Suwon Stadium | Daejeon World Cup Stadium |
Capacity: 17,443 | Capacity: 11,808 | Capacity: 40,903 |
FC Seoul | Ulsan Hyundai | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
Seoul World Cup Stadium | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium | Suwon World Cup Stadium |
Capacity: 66,704 | Capacity: 44,102 | Capacity: 44,031 |
Gwangju FC | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | |
Gwangju Football Stadium | Jeonju World Cup Stadium | |
Capacity: 10,007 | Capacity: 42,477 | |
Gangwon FC | ||
Chuncheon Songam Leports Town | Gangneung Stadium | |
Capacity: 20,000 | Capacity: 22,333 | |
Personnel and sponsoring[edit]
Team | Manager | Main sponsor | Kit manufacturer | Other sponsor(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Daegu FC | Choi Won-kwon | Daegu Government | Goal Studio | DGB Daegu Bank AJIN Industrial Co., Ltd. |
Daejeon Hana Citizen | Lee Min-sung | Hana Financial Group | Astore | |
Gangwon FC | Yoon Jong-hwan | Gangwon Provincial Government | Fila | High1 Resort |
Gwangju FC | Lee Jung-hyo | Gwangju Government | Kelme | |
Incheon United | Jo Sung-hwan | Incheon Government | Macron | Shinhan Bank Incheon International Airport |
Jeju United | Nam Ki-il | SK Energy | Fila | |
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Dan Petrescu | Hyundai Motor Company | Adidas | |
Pohang Steelers | Kim Gi-dong | POSCO | Puma | Pohang Government |
FC Seoul | An Ik-soo | GS Group | Pro-Specs | |
Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Kim Byung-soo | Cheil Worldwide | Puma | Samsung Electronics Deutsch Motors |
Suwon FC | Kim Do-kyun | Suwon Government | Hummel | |
Ulsan Hyundai | Hong Myung-bo | Hyundai Heavy Industries | Adidas | Hyundai Oil Bank |
Foreign players[edit]
The number of allowed foreign players was kept strictly to six per team, including a guaranteed slot for a player from the Asian Football Confederation countries. Teams could field at most five foreign players at any given time, including at least one player from the AFC confederation.
North Korean player An Byong-jun, who played for Suwon Samsung Bluewings, was deemed as a native player by South Korean nationality law.
Players in bold were registered during the mid-season transfer window.
League table[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation[a] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ulsan Hyundai (C) | 38 | 23 | 7 | 8 | 63 | 42 | +21 | 76 | Qualification for Champions League Elite league stage[b] |
2 | Pohang Steelers | 38 | 16 | 16 | 6 | 53 | 40 | +13 | 64 | |
3 | Gwangju FC | 38 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 47 | 35 | +12 | 59 | |
4 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 38 | 16 | 9 | 13 | 45 | 35 | +10 | 57 | Qualification for Champions League 2 group stage |
5 | Incheon United | 38 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 46 | 42 | +4 | 56 | |
6 | Daegu FC | 38 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 42 | 43 | −1 | 53 | |
7 | FC Seoul | 38 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 63 | 49 | +14 | 55 | |
8 | Daejeon Hana Citizen | 38 | 12 | 15 | 11 | 56 | 58 | −2 | 51 | |
9 | Jeju United | 38 | 10 | 11 | 17 | 43 | 49 | −6 | 41 | |
10 | Gangwon FC (O) | 38 | 6 | 16 | 16 | 30 | 41 | −11 | 34 | Qualification for relegation play-offs |
11 | Suwon FC (O) | 38 | 8 | 9 | 21 | 44 | 76 | −32 | 33 | |
12 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings (R) | 38 | 8 | 9 | 21 | 35 | 57 | −22 | 33 | Relegation to K League 2 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference; 4) Wins; 5) Head-to-head points
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- ^ Teams played each other three times (33 matches), before the league was split into two groups, the top six and the bottom six.
- ^ The third-placed team Gwangju FC also qualified, since second-placed team Pohang Steelers qualified for the league stage as Korean FA Cup champions. They were later confirmed for the league stage[3] based on their association's higher rank.
Positions by matchday[edit]
Leaders, qualification for Champions League Elite league stage
Qualification for Champions League Elite play-off round
Qualification for Champions League 2 group stage
Qualification for relegation play-offs
Relegation to K League 2
Round 1–33[edit]
Round 34–38[edit]
Results[edit]
Matches 1–22[edit]
Teams played each other twice, once at home, once away.[4]
Matchday 1 (25–26 February) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Attendance: 28,039
Attendance: 14,089
|
Matchday 2 (4–5 March) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Attendance: 19,660
|
Matchday 3 (11–12 March) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Matchday 4 (18–19 March) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Matchday 5 (1–2 April) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju
Gwangju Football Stadium, Gwangju
Incheon Football Stadium, Incheon
Daejeon World Cup Stadium, Daejeon
Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon |
Matchday 6 (8–9 April) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium, Ulsan
Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul
Pohang Steel Yard, Pohang
Suwon Sports Complex, Suwon
Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju
Chuncheon Song-am Sports Town, Chuncheon |
Matchday 7 (15–16 April) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon
Pohang Steel Yard, Pohang
Suwon Sports Complex, Suwon
Chuncheon Song-am Sports Town, Chuncheon
Daejeon World Cup Stadium, Daejeon Attendance: 16,359
DGB Daegu Bank Park, Daegu |
Matchday 8 (22–23 April) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Incheon Football Stadium, Incheon
Gwangju Football Stadium, Gwangju
|
Matchday 9 (25–26 April) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Incheon Football Stadium, Incheon
Pohang Steel Yard, Pohang
Gwangju Football Stadium, Gwangju
Chuncheon Song-am Sports Town, Chuncheon
Suwon Sports Complex, Suwon
Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju |
Matchday 10 (29–30 April) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Suwon Sports Complex, Suwon
Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju
Daejeon World Cup Stadium, Daejeon
Pohang Steel Yard, Pohang
Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon
Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium, Ulsan |
Matchday 11 (5–6 May) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul
DGB Daegu Bank Park, Daegu
Incheon Football Stadium, Incheon
Jeju World Cup Stadium, Seogwipo, Jeju Province
Gwangju Football Stadium(Gwangju World Cup Stadium 2), Gwangju |
Matchday 12 (9–10 May) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium, Ulsan
Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul
Jeju World Cup Stadium, Seogwipo, Jeju Province
Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon
Daejeon World Cup Stadium, Daejeon |
Matchday 13 (13–14 May) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pohang Steel Yard, Pohang
Gwangju Football Stadium(Gwangju World Cup Stadium 2), Gwangju
Chuncheon Songam Sports Town, Chuncheon
Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium, Ulsan
Incheon Football Stadium, Incheon
Suwon Sports Complex, Suwon |
Matchday 14 (20–21 May) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Incheon Football Stadium, Incheon
Daejeon World Cup Stadium, Daejeon
Chuncheon Songam Sports Town, Chuncheon
Suwon World Cup Stadium
Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju |
Matchday 15 (27–28 May) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jeju World Cup Stadium, Seogwipo, Jeju Province
DGB Daegu Bank Park, Daegu
Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul
Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium, Ulsan
Pohang Steel Yard, Pohang |
Matchday 16 (3–4 June) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Matchday 17 (6–7 June) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Suwon Sports Complex, Suwon
Pohang Steel Yard, Pohang
Gwangju Football Stadium, Gwangju
Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju
Incheon Football Stadium, Incheon
Chuncheon Song-am Sports Town, Chuncheon |
Matchday 18 (10–11 June) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DGB Daegu Bank Park, Daegu
Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium, Ulsan
Daejeon World Cup Stadium, Daejeon
Chuncheon Song-am Sports Town, Chuncheon
Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul Attendance: 18,108
Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon |
Matchday 19 (24–25 June) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jeju World Cup Stadium, Seogwipo, Jeju Province
Gwangju Football Stadium, Gwangju
Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium, Ulsan
Incheon Football Stadium, Incheon
Suwon Sports Complex, Suwon |
Matchday 20 (1–2 July) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju
DGB Daegu Bank Park, Daegu
Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul
Gwangju Football Stadium, Gwangju
Pohang Steel Yard, Pohang
Incheon Football Stadium, Incheon |
Matchday 21 (7–9 July) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gangneung Stadium, Gangneung
Jeju World Cup Stadium, Seogwipo, Jeju Province
Pohang Steel Yard, Pohang
Suwon Sports Complex, Suwon
Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju
Daejeon World Cup Stadium, Daejeon |
Matchday 22 (11–12 July) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DGB Daegu Bank Park, Daegu
Jeju World Cup Stadium, Seogwipo, Jeju Province
Ulsan Munsu Stadium, Ulsan
|