K3 League (2007–2019)
The K3 League was a South Korean football competition that existed as an amateur league from 2007 to 2019. It was considered as the fourth and fifth tier of the South Korean football league system. It was originally located in the third tier, but it was relegated to the fourth tier after a professional league K League 2 was launched in 2013. In 2017, it was divided into the fourth-tier K3 League Advanced and the fifth-tier K3 League Basic on a system of promotion and relegation. In 2020, the K3 League Advanced/Basic and the semi-professional league Korea National League went defunct, and they will got merged into the new K3 League as third tier. The rest of the former K3 League clubs which could not qualify for the new K3 League were founded in the K4 League. The newly revamped K3 League and K4 League were established for the 2020 season.
 | |
| Organising body | Korea Football Association |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2007 |
| First season | 2007 |
| Folded | 2019 |
| Country | South Korea |
| Divisions | K3 League Advanced K3 League Basic |
| Level on pyramid | 3 (2007–2012) 4 (2013–2016) 4–5 (2017–2019) |
| Domestic cup(s) | Korean FA Cup |
| League cup(s) | Challengers Cup |
| Last champions | Hwaseong FC (2nd title) |
| Most championships | Pocheon Citizen (6 titles) |
| K3 League | |
| Hangul | K3리그 |
|---|---|
| Revised Romanization | K3 Rigeu |
| McCune–Reischauer | K3 Rigŭ |
History
In 2007, the K3 League had a demonstration season with ten teams. This season operated a two-stage system, with each side playing each other once in each stage for a combined total of eighteen matches (nine in each stage). The winners of both stages, Hwasung Shinwoo Electronics and Seoul United; and the best two clubs among the others in overall standings, Cheonan FC and Yongin FC, entered the championship playoffs. The four playoff teams earned a spot in the 2008 Korean FA Cup. Seoul United emerged victorious in the final of the championship playoffs, defeating Hwasung Shinwoo Electronics 3–0 on aggregate.
The K3 League was officially launched in 2008, and the number of participating clubs was increased to 18 until the 2010 season, while new clubs registered in the league or some of the existing clubs were dissolved due to financial problems. Seoul Pabal, which engaged in match-fixing scandal during the 2008 season, was also dissolved at that time.
Since 2010, it was divided into two groups instead of the two-stage method, and was renamed as the Challengers League prior to the start of the 2011 season. The Korea Football Association also announced that undergraduates would not be allowed to play from the 2012 season onwards. The name of the league, for the 2014 season, was officially changed again from Challengers League to K3 League Challengers.[1] Meanwhile, Its League Cup Challengers Cup, was held for two years from 2011 to 2012.
In January 2015, to avoid confusing with K League Challenge, the league name was changed back to K3 League.[2] In 2017, it introduced a system of promotion and relegation. The first division's name is "K3 League Advanced", and the second division's became the "K3 League Basic". After the 2019 season, amateur level K3 League was revamped as a semi-professional league with the same name. The former Korea National League and K3 League Advanced were absorbed into the third division and were rebranded as the new K3 League.
Competition format
In 2008 season, it operated its season in two stages, with the winners of each stage and the two runners-up advancing to the post-season championship playoffs. If in the event of the same team winning both stages, there will be no playoff.
In 2009 season, the championship playoff was abolished. Each club played the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 32 games.
The 2010 season ran from March 13 through October 30. The 16 teams in the league are divided into the Group A and Group B — eight in the Group A, eight in the Group B. Each team competes against the other team in same group twice, home and away, the other group's team once, home or away, for a total of 22 games. The two group winners and two runners-up qualify to the Championship playoff.
In 2015 season, The 18 teams in the league are divided into the Group A and Group B — nine in the Group A, nine in the Group B. Each team competes against the other team in same group twice, home and away, the other group's team once, home or away, for a total of 25 games. The two group winners, two runners-up and two third place teams qualify to the Championship playoff. [3]
In 2016 season, The 20 teams compete in a single division. Each team plays each other once for a total of 19 games. After the regular season, the top 11 teams will qualify for the 2017 K3 League Advanced. The playoff winner of 4 teams ranked 12th to 15th will also qualify for 2017 K3 League Advanced. The remaining 8 teams will compete in the 2017 K3 League Basic. [4]
In 2017 season, Each K3 Advance team played each other twice for a total of 22 games. Each K3 Advance team played each other home and away for a total of 16 games. 11th and 12th K3 Advance team are relegated to the K3 Basic League. Champion of K3 Basic team is promoted to K3 Advance leagued. top 2–5 of K3 Basic team have playoff and playoff's winner is promoted.[5]
All-time clubs
| Club | From | To | Subsequent league |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bucheon FC 1995 | 2008 | 2012 | K League 2 |
| Cheongju FC | 2004 | 2019 | K3 League |
| Jeonju Citizen | 2007 | 2019 | |
| Yangju Citizen | 2007 | 2019 | |
| Gyeongju Citizen | 2008 | 2019 | |
| Chuncheon FC | 2010 | 2019 | |
| Gimpo Citizen | 2013 | 2019 | |
| Hwaseong FC | 2013 | 2019 | |
| Pyeongtaek Citizen | 2017 | 2019 | |
| Seoul Nowon United | 2007 | 2019 | K4 League |
| Chungju Citizen | 2017 | 2019 | |
| Goyang Citizen | 2008 | 2019 | |
| Pocheon Citizen | 2008 | 2019 | |
| Icheon Citizen | 2009 | 2019 | |
| Seoul Jungnang | 2012 | 2019 | |
| Paju Citizen | 2012 | 2019 | |
| Siheung City | 2016 | 2019 | |
| Yangpyeong FC | 2016 | 2019 | |
| Yeoju Citizen | 2017 | 2019 | |
| Ulsan Citizen | 2018 | 2019 | |
| Pyeongchang FC | 2008 | 2019 | |
| Daegu Korea Powertrain | 2007 | 2007 | Defunct |
| Changwon United | 2007 | 2008 | |
| Seoul Pabal | 2007 | 2008 | |
| Samcheok Shinwoo Electronics | 2007 | 2010 | |
| Yongin Citizen | 2007 | 2010 | |
| Asan United | 2007 | 2013 | |
| Cheonan FC | 2007 | 2015 | |
| Jeonju Ongoeul | 2008 | 2009 | |
| Namyangju United | 2008 | 2012 | |
| Seoul FC Martyrs | 2009 | 2015 | |
| Yeonggwang FC | 2010 | 2016 | |
| FC Uijeongbu | 2014 | 2018 | |
| Cheongju City[lower-alpha 1] | 2016 | 2018 | |
| Buyeo FC | 2016 | 2018 | |
| Busan FC | 2017 | 2018 |
- Merged to Cheongju FC
Winners
Third–fourth division
| Season | Champions | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| K3 League (2007–2010) | ||
| 2007 | Seoul United | Hwasung Shinwoo Electronics |
| 2008 | Yangju Citizen | Hwasung Shinwoo Electronics |
| 2009 | Pocheon Citizen | Gwangju Gwangsan |
| 2010 | Gyeongju Citizen | Hwasung Shinwoo Electronics |
| Challengers League (2011–2013) | ||
| 2011 | Gyeongju Citizen | Yangju Citizen |
| 2012 | Pocheon Citizen | Chuncheon FC |
| 2013 | Pocheon Citizen | Paju Citizen |
| K3 Challengers League | ||
| 2014 | Hwaseong FC | Pocheon Citizen |
| K3 League (2015–2016) | ||
| 2015 | Pocheon Citizen | Gyeongju Citizen |
| 2016 | Pocheon Citizen | Cheongju City |
| K3 League Advanced (2017–2019) | ||
| 2017 | Pocheon Citizen | Cheongju City |
| 2018 | Gyeongju Citizen | Icheon Citizen |
| 2019 | Hwaseong FC | Yangpyeong FC |
Titles by club
| Club | Winners | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| Pocheon Citizen | 5 (2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016) | 1 (2014) |
| Gyeongju Citizen | 3 (2010, 2011, 2017) | 1 (2015) |
| Hwaseong FC | 2 (2014, 2019) | — |
| Yangju Citizen | 1 (2008) | 1 (2011) |
| Seoul United | 1 (2007) | — |
| Hwasung Shinwoo Electronics | — | 3 (2007, 2008, 2010) |
| Gwangju Gwangsan | — | 1 (2009) |
| Chuncheon FC | — | 1 (2012) |
| Paju Citizen | — | 1 (2013) |
| Yangpyeong FC | — | 1 (2019) |
| Cheongju City | — | 2 (2016, 2017) |
Fifth division
| Season | Champions | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| K3 League Basic (2017–2019) | ||
| 2017 | Jungnang Chorus | Siheung Citizen |
| 2018 | Siheung Citizen | Paju Citizen |
| 2019 | Ulsan Citizen | Jeonju Citizen |
References
- 리그 명칭 변경.(K3 챌린저스리그) (in Korean). Seoul United. 3 March 2014. Archived from the original on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
- 2015 K3리그 대진추첨, ‘강팀 포진’ A조-‘이변 기대’ B조 (in Korean). KFA. 28 January 2015. Archived from the original on 29 January 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
- 전주시민축구단, 14일 리그 홈 개막전 (in Korean). Jeonmin Ilbo. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- 한층 업그레이드 된 K3리그, 관전포인트 셋. Naver.com (in Korean). KFA. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- [K3리그 개막특집] 전문가 3인에게 한번 물어봤습니다.. Naver.com (in Korean). KFA. 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
External links
- Official website (in Korean)