Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors gamers and coaches have a good time their Okay League 1 title in entrance of followers at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, Nov. 8. Courtesy of the Korea Skilled Soccer League
The highest division in Korean soccer will add two golf equipment to broaden to 14 in 2027 by giving extra second-tier groups an opportunity to earn promotion, the league workplace mentioned Monday.
The Korea Skilled Soccer League (Okay League) introduced its growth plan following Monday’s board assembly, saying it wished to attain extra stability between the top-flight Okay League 1 and the second-tier Okay League 2.
The Okay League 2 will welcome three new golf equipment subsequent 12 months to have 17 groups. The decrease division has been rising steadily, going from 10 groups in 2021 to 11 in 2022, 13 in 2023, 14 in 2025 and 17 in 2026. Nevertheless, the Okay League 1 has had 12 golf equipment in each season since 2014.
With two extra golf equipment in motion, the Okay League 1 schedule can even broaden from the present 38 matches per group to 39 matches in 2027.
The league workplace additionally mentioned the army membership, Gimcheon Sangmu FC, will likely be mechanically relegated to the Okay League 2 for 2027, no matter their place within the tables, since an affiliation contract between the membership and their present dwelling metropolis of Gimcheon will expire on the finish of the 2026 season.
This can even have an effect on the promotion-relegation guidelines. Presently, solely the Okay League 2 champion earns automated promotion and trades locations with the last-place group within the Okay League 1, whereas the runner-up and a playoff winner from the Okay League 2 should win promotion-relegation playoff collection to maneuver as much as the Okay League 1.
Below the brand new system in 2026, ought to Gimcheon Sangmu FC end in final place within the Okay League 1, they would be the solely top-tier membership to endure relegation. The highest two golf equipment from the Okay League 2 will likely be instantly promoted to the Okay League 1, alongside the winner of the four-team Okay League 2 playoffs involving groups ranked from third to sixth.
If Gimcheon Sangmu FC do not end final in 2026, they are going to nonetheless be relegated and the last-place membership will fall to the promotion-relegation playoff.
On this case, the highest two Okay League 2 golf equipment and the Okay League 2 playoffs winner will nonetheless obtain promotion. The Okay League 2 playoffs loser will face the last-place group from the Okay League 1 within the promotion-relegation playoff.
If town of Gimcheon launches a brand new soccer membership or if Sangmu discover a new dwelling for 2027, then each of these groups will play within the Okay League 2 in 2027.
