The Korea National League () was a South Korean semi-professional football league held annually from 2003 to 2019. It was considered the second-highest division of the South Korean football league system before the K League 2 was launched in 2013, and the third-highest division from 2013 to its folding in 2019.
History The Korea National League was officially founded as K2 League in 2003 to execute a plan to professionalize the Korean National Semi-Professional Football League. The participating clubs of the National League were required to be based in their specific hometowns unlike in the Semi-professional League era.
In 2006, the K2 League was re-branded as the Korea National League, and its champions were decided to promote to the K League. However, Goyang KB Kookmin Bank and Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, the champions of the 2006 and 2007 season respectively, judged that they couldn't derive benefit from their professionalization, and rejected their promotion. The Korea Football Association and the K League Federation eventually prepared another project to found the second-tier professional league which is irrelevant to the National League.
At the end of 2019, the Korea National League was absorbed into the K3 League.
All-time clubs No. Club Owner(s) 1 Iksan Hallelujah (2003)Gimpo Hallelujah (2004–2006)Ansan Hallelujah (2007–2011)Ansan H FC (2012) 2 Daejeon KHNP (2003–2012)Gyeongju KHNP (2013–2019) Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power 3 Gangneung City (2003–2019) Government of Gangneung 4 Gimpo Kookmin Bank (2003)Goyang Kookmin Bank (2003–2005)Goyang KB Kookmin Bank (2006–2012) Kookmin Bank 5 Incheon Korail (2003–2013)Daejeon Korail (2014–2019) Korail 6 Uijeongbu Hummel (2003–2005)Icheon Hummel (2006–2007)Nowon Hummel (2008–2009)Chungju Hummel (2010–2012) Hummel Korea 7 Icheon Sangmu (2003–2005) Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps 8 Suwon City (2003–2012) Government of Suwon 9 Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (2003–2016) Hyundai Mipo Dockyard 10 Seosan Citizen (2003–2006)Seosan Omega (2007)Yesan FC (2008–2010) Government of Seosan (2003–2007)Government of Yesan (2008–2010) 11 Seoul City (2003) Government of Seoul 12 Changwon City (2005–2019) Government of Changwon 13 Busan Transportation Corporation (2006–2019) Busan Transportation Corporation 14 INGNEX FC (2007)Hongcheon Idu (2008–2009) INGNEX (2007)Idu Construction (2008–2009)15 Cheonan City (2008–2019) Government of Cheonan 16 Gimhae City (2008–2019) Government of Gimhae 17 Mokpo City (2010–2019) Government of Mokpo 18 Yongin City (2010–2016) Government of Yongin
Champions Champions by season Season Champions Runners-up Goyang Kookmin Bank Icheon Sangmu Goyang Kookmin Bank Gangneung City Incheon Korail Suwon City Goyang Kookmin Bank Gimpo Hallelujah Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Suwon City Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Suwon City Gangneung City Gimhae City Suwon City Daejeon KHNP Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Goyang KB Kookmin Bank Incheon Korail Goyang KB Kookmin Bank Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Gyeongju KHNP Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Daejeon Korail Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Gyeongju KHNP Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Gangneung City Gyeongju KHNP Gimhae City Gyeongju KHNP Gimhae City Gangneung City Gyeongju KHNP
Performance by club Club Champions Runners-up Hyundai Mipo Dockyard 7 (2007, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016)—Goyang KB Kookmin Bank 3 (2003, 2004, 2006) 2 (2011, 2012)Gyeongju KHNP 2 (2017, 2018) 4 (2010, 2013, 2015, 2019)Gangneung City 2 (2009, 2019) 2 (2004, 2016)Daejeon Korail 2 (2005, 2012) 1 (2014)Suwon City 1 (2010) 3 (2005, 2007, 2008)Gimhae City— 3 (2009, 2017, 2018)Icheon Sangmu— 1 (2003)Gimpo Hallelujah— 1 (2006)
Sponsorship Sponsor Season Competition Hyundai Motor Company 2003 Hyundai Motors Cup K2 League Intermax AD2003 Intermax Cup K2 League Hyundai Motor Company 2004 Hyundai Motors Cup K2 League Kookmin Bank 2005 KB Kookmin Bank Cup K2 League STC Company 2006–2007 STC Cup National League Kookmin Bank 2007–2008 KB Kookmin Bank National League Kyobo Life Insurance 2009 Kyobo Life National League Korea Life Insurance 2010 Daehan Life National League Samsung Life Insurance 2011 Samsung Life National League Shinhan Bank 2012–2013 Shinhan Bank National League Samsung Life Insurance 2014 Samsung Life National League Incheon International Airport Corporation 2015–2017 Incheon International Airport National League Hanwha Life Insurance 2018 Hanhwa Life National League Kyobo Life Insurance 2019 Kyobo Life National League
See also South Korean football league system Korean Semi-professional Football League K3 League Korea National League Championship List of foreign Korea National League players
References
External links Official website Twitter