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 | 26 | 17 -5-4 | 56 | - | 52 | 21 | 31 | 12 | 7 -2-3 | 23 | 21 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 10 -3-1 | 33 | 31 | 11 | 20 |
| 2 | Ulsan HD FC | 26 | 12 -4-10 | 40 | - | 41 | 37 | 4 | 13 | 6 -1-6 | 19 | 23 | 22 | 1 | 13 | 6 -3-4 | 21 | 18 | 15 | 3 |
| 3 | Jeonbuk Motors | 26 | 10 -9-7 | 39 | - | 32 | 23 | 9 | 12 | 6 -2-4 | 20 | 18 | 13 | 5 | 14 | 4 -7-3 | 19 | 14 | 10 | 4 |
| 4 | Jeju SK FC | 26 | 10 -8-8 | 38 | - | 31 | 27 | 4 | 16 | 5 -6-5 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 10 | 5 -2-3 | 17 | 13 | 9 | 4 |
| 5 | Gangwon FC | 25 | 9 -10-6 | 37 | - | 30 | 24 | 6 | 11 | 4 -5-2 | 17 | 16 | 11 | 5 | 14 | 5 -5-4 | 20 | 14 | 13 | 1 |
| 6 | Pohang Steelers | 26 | 10 -5-11 | 35 | - | 24 | 29 | -5 | 12 | 3 -3-6 | 12 | 4 | 10 | -6 | 14 | 7 -2-5 | 23 | 20 | 19 | 1 |
| 7 | Incheon United | 25 | 9 -7-9 | 34 | - | 32 | 28 | 4 | 13 | 4 -3-6 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 12 | 5 -4-3 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 4 |
| 8 | FC Anyang | 26 | 8 -10-8 | 34 | - | 33 | 39 | -6 | 13 | 3 -5-5 | 14 | 15 | 23 | -8 | 13 | 5 -5-3 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 2 |
| 9 | Daejeon Citizen FC | 26 | 8 -8-10 | 32 | - | 35 | 32 | 3 | 13 | 3 -5-5 | 14 | 14 | 15 | -1 | 13 | 5 -3-5 | 18 | 21 | 17 | 4 |
| 10 | Bucheon FC 1995 | 26 | 7 -10-9 | 31 | - | 28 | 29 | -1 | 14 | 3 -6-5 | 15 | 16 | 17 | -1 | 12 | 4 -4-4 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 11 | Gimcheon Sangmu FC | 26 | 4 -15-7 | 27 | - | 24 | 32 | -8 | 12 | 1 -8-3 | 11 | 10 | 16 | -6 | 14 | 3 -7-4 | 16 | 14 | 16 | -2 |
| 12 | Gwangju FC | 26 | 1 -9-16 | 12 | - | 16 | 57 | -41 | 14 | 1 -4-9 | 7 | 11 | 29 | -18 | 12 | 0 -5-7 | 5 | 5 | 28 | -23 |
2027-2028 AFCCL Relegation Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fixtures
 | Daejeon Citizen FC | Bucheon Stadium |
 | Ulsan HD FC | Jeju World Cup Stadium |
 | Pohang Steelers | Jeonju World Cup Stadium |
 | Incheon United | Sangam Stadium |
 | Gwangju FC | Gimcheon Stadium |
 | Gangwon FC | Anyang Stadium |
| Bucheon FC 1995 | Incheon Football Stadium |
| FC Seoul | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium |
| FC Anyang | Daejeon World Cup Stadium |
| Jeonbuk Motors | Gangneung Stadium |
| Jeju SK FC | Gwangju World Cup Stadium |
| Gimcheon Sangmu FC | Pohang Steel Yard |
| Jeju SK FC | Bucheon Stadium |
| FC Seoul | Jeonju World Cup Stadium |
| Incheon United | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium |
| Pohang Steelers | Daejeon World Cup Stadium |
| Gangwon FC | Gimcheon Stadium |
| FC Anyang | Gwangju World Cup Stadium |
| Gimcheon Sangmu FC | Bucheon Stadium |
| Ulsan HD FC | Anyang Stadium |
Results
| 00 | Gangwon FC | Pohang Steel Yard |
| 31 | Daejeon Citizen FC | Jeju World Cup Stadium |
| 11 | Jeonbuk Motors | Incheon Football Stadium |
| 25 | FC Seoul | Gwangju World Cup Stadium |
| 11 | FC Anyang | Bucheon Stadium |
| 31 | Gimcheon Sangmu FC | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium |
| 22 | Gwangju FC | Gangneung Stadium |
| 21 | Ulsan HD FC | Daejeon World Cup Stadium |
| 21 | Incheon United | Anyang Stadium |
| 10 | Bucheon FC 1995 | Sangam Stadium |
| 12 | Pohang Steelers | Jeju World Cup Stadium |
| 00 | Jeonbuk Motors | Gimcheon Stadium |
| 01 | Incheon United | Gwangju World Cup Stadium |
| 30 | Gangwon FC | Daejeon World Cup Stadium |
| 30 | Pohang Steelers | Bucheon Stadium |
| 10 | Ulsan HD FC | Jeonju World Cup Stadium |
| 00 | Gimcheon Sangmu FC | Jeju World Cup Stadium |
| 23 | Gangwon FC | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium |
| 11 | Gimcheon Sangmu FC | Incheon Football Stadium |