2020 K League 1

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Hana 1Q
K League 1
2020 K League 1.png
Season 2020
Dates8 May – 1 November 2020
Champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
(8th title)
Relegated Sangju Sangmu
Busan IPark
Champions League Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Ulsan Hyundai
Pohang Steelers
Daegu FC
Matches played162
Goals scored425 (2.62 per match)
Best Player Son Jun-ho
Top goalscorer Júnior Negrão
(26 goals)
Biggest home win Daegu 6–0 Seoul
(14 June 2020)
Biggest away win Seongnam 0–6 Incheon
(27 September 2020)
Highest scoring Daegu 4–6 Gwangju
(30 August 2020)
Longest winning run5 matches
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Ulsan Hyundai
Longest unbeaten run11 matches
Ulsan Hyundai
Longest winless run15 matches
Incheon United
Longest losing run8 matches
Incheon United
2019
2021

The 2020 K League 1 was the 38th season of the top division of professional football in South Korea, and the eighth season of the K League 1. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors won their eighth title, becoming the most successful K League club which had the most titles. [1]

Contents

The regular season was scheduled to begin on 29 February and to end on 4 October, [2] but was postponed until 8 May due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [3] [4] [5]

On 24 April 2020, the K League Federation confirmed that they would adopt a modified plan for the season, reducing the number of matchdays to 27 including five matchdays of each divided final league. [6]

Sangju Sangmu and the lowest-placed team at the end of the season were relegated to the K League 2 for the 2021 season. [7]

In this season, one additional spot for players from ASEAN countries was added regardless of the "3+1" foreign players rule. [8] [9]

Teams

Team changes

Relegated to K League 2

Promoted from K League 2

Locations

The following twelve teams competed in the 2020 K League 1. [11]

TeamCity/Province
Busan IPark Busan
Daegu FC Daegu
Gangwon FC Gangwon
Gwangju FC Gwangju
Incheon United Incheon
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Jeonbuk
Pohang Steelers Pohang
Sangju Sangmu Sangju
Seongnam FC Seongnam
FC Seoul Seoul
Suwon Samsung Bluewings Suwon
Ulsan Hyundai Ulsan

Stadiums

Busan IPark Daegu FC Incheon United
Busan Gudeok Stadium DGB Daegu Bank Park Incheon Football Stadium
Capacity: 12,349Capacity: 12,415Capacity: 20,891
Gudeok Stadium 3.JPG Daegu DGB Bank Park 2019.jpg Incheon Soccer Stadium 2.JPG
Pohang Steelers Sangju Sangmu Seongnam FC
Pohang Steel Yard Sangju Civic Stadium Tancheon Stadium
Capacity: 17,443Capacity: 15,042Capacity: 16,146
Pohang080413 1.jpg Sangju Civic Stadium.jpg Tanchon20100223 1.JPG
FC Seoul Suwon Samsung Bluewings Ulsan Hyundai
Seoul World Cup Stadium Suwon World Cup Stadium Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
Capacity: 66,704Capacity: 44,031Capacity: 44,102
Glandbleu01.jpg Munsu 20121110 204310 5.jpg
Gwangju FC Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Gwangju World Cup Stadium Gwangju Football Stadium Jeonju World Cup Stadium
Capacity: 40,245Capacity: 12,000Capacity: 42,477
Gwangju World Cup Stadium.jpg Jeonju World Cup Stadium 2016.jpg
Gangwon FC
Chuncheon Songam Leports Town Gangneung Stadium
Capacity: 20,000Capacity: 22,333
Gangneung Stadium2.jpg

Personnel and sponsoring

TeamManagerMain sponsorKit manufacturerOther sponsor(s)
Busan IPark Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Ki-hyung (caretaker) Hyundai Development Company Adidas
Daegu FC Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Byung-keun (caretaker) Daegu GovernmentForward DGB Daegu Bank
AJIN Industrial Co., Ltd.
Gangwon FC Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Byung-soo Gangwon Provincial GovernmentApplerind Kangwon Land
Gwangju FC Flag of South Korea.svg Park Jin-sub Gwangju Government Kelme
Incheon United Flag of South Korea.svg Jo Sung-hwan Incheon Government Macron Shinhan Bank
Incheon International Airport
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Flag of Portugal.svg José Morais Hyundai Motor Company Hummel
Pohang Steelers Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Gi-dong POSCO Astore Pohang Government
Sangju Sangmu Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Tae-wan Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps Kelme
Seongnam FC Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Nam-il Seongnam Government Umbro
FC Seoul Flag of South Korea.svg Park Hyuk-soon (caretaker) GS Group Le Coq Sportif
Suwon Samsung Bluewings Flag of South Korea.svg Park Kun-ha Cheil Worldwide Puma Samsung Electronics
Ulsan Hyundai Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Do-hoon Hyundai Heavy Industries Hummel Hyundai Oil Bank

Foreign players

Restricting the number of foreign players strictly to five per team, including a slot for a player from the Asian Football Confederation countries and a slot for a player from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. A team could use five foreign players on the field each game, including at least one player from the AFC confederation.

Players in bold were registered during the mid-season transfer window.

TeamPlayer 1Player 2Player 3AFC playerASEAN player [a] Former player(s)
Busan IPark Flag of Brazil.svg Vintecinco Flag of Brazil.svg Rômulo Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Dostonbek Tursunov Flag of Brazil.svg Reis
Daegu FC Flag of Brazil.svg Césinha Flag of Brazil.svg Edgar Flag of Montenegro.svg Dejan Damjanović Flag of Japan.svg Tsubasa Nishi
Gangwon FC Flag of Japan.svg Takahiro Nakazato
Gwangju FC Flag of Brazil.svg Felipe Flag of Brazil.svg Willyan Flag of Costa Rica.svg Marco Ureña Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Rustam Ashurmatov
Incheon United Flag of Montenegro.svg Stefan Mugoša Flag of Costa Rica.svg Elías Aguilar Flag of Brazil.svg Gustavo Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rashid Mahazi Flag of Nigeria.svg Lanre Kehinde
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Gordan Bunoza
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Flag of Brazil.svg Murilo Flag of The Gambia.svg Modou Barrow Flag of Brazil.svg Gustavo Flag of Japan.svg Takahiro Kunimoto Flag of South Africa.svg Lars Veldwijk
Pohang Steelers Flag of Colombia.svg Manuel Palacios Flag of Russia.svg Stanislav Iljutcenko Flag of Serbia.svg Aleksandar Paločević Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brandon O’Neill
Seongnam FC Flag of Croatia.svg Igor Jovanović Flag of Croatia.svg Tomislav Kiš Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Jamshid Iskanderov
FC Seoul Flag of Brazil.svg Adriano Michael Jackson Flag of Spain.svg Osmar Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Ikromjon Alibaev Flag of Serbia.svg Aleksandar Pešić
Suwon Samsung Bluewings Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Doneil Henry Flag of Australia (converted).svg Terry Antonis Flag of Australia (converted).svg Adam Taggart Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Sulejman Krpić
Ulsan Hyundai Flag of Brazil.svg Júnior Negrão Flag of the Netherlands.svg Dave Bulthuis Flag of Norway.svg Bjørn Maars Johnsen Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jason Davidson
  1. Did not exist in the regulation of AFC.

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation [a]
1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (C)2719354621+2560Qualification for Champions League group stage
2 Ulsan Hyundai 2717645423+3157
3 Pohang Steelers 2715575635+2150
4 Sangju Sangmu [b] (R)2713593436244Relegation to K League 2
5 Daegu FC 2710894339+438Qualification for Champions League group stage
6 Gwangju FC 27671432461425
7 Gangwon FC 2797113641534
8 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2787122730331
9 FC Seoul 27851423442129
10 Seongnam FC 27771324371328
11 Incheon United 27761425351027
12 Busan IPark (R)275101225381325Relegation to K League 2
Source: K League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference; 4) Wins; 5) Head-to-head points
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. Teams are split into two groups (Final A and Final B) after each have played 22 matches.
  2. Sangju Sangmu were a military team and were not eligible to represent South Korea in the AFC club competitions. Additionally, they were relegated to K League 2 regardless of their final position by moving their stronghold the next season.

Positions by matchday

  Leaders
  Qualification for Champions League group stage
  Relegation to K League 2

Round 1–22

Team ╲ Round12345678910111213141516171819202122
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 5211111111222222222222
Ulsan Hyundai 1122222222111111111111
Pohang Steelers 3364645555443544544443
Sangju Sangmu 12746564333334433333334
Daegu FC 6889856444555355455555
Gwangju FC 11121212108777891010810101077786
Gangwon FC 2575333667666678866968
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 910108910881010899101111111111111111
FC Seoul 8637791011991011111186689677
Seongnam FC 4453479981111889679108899
Incheon United 79911121212121212121212121212121212121212
Busan IPark 10111110111111101167777997910101010
Source: K League

Round 23–27

The league was divided into two groups, the top six and the bottom six, after the 22nd matchday.

Team ╲ Round2324252627
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 22211
Ulsan Hyundai 11122
Pohang Steelers 33333
Sangju Sangmu 44444
Daegu FC 55555
Gwangju FC 66666
Gangwon FC 77777
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 98898
FC Seoul 89989
Seongnam FC 1011111110
Incheon United 1112121211
Busan IPark 1210101012
Source: K League

Results

Matches 1–22

Home \ Away BSI DGU GWN GJU ICU JHM PHS SJS SFC SEO SSB USH
Busan IPark 2–21–20–00–01–22–11–11–12–00–01–2
Daegu FC 3–02–14–60–10–21–11–13–26–03–11–3
Gangwon FC 2–40–04–12–31–00–32–21–13–11–20–3
Gwangju FC 3–12–42–22–13–30–20–10–20–00–11–1
Incheon United 0–10–01–21–31–11–41–10–2 1–0 1–00–1
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2–02–01–21–01–02–12–12–23–01–02–1
Pohang Steelers 2–03–22–01–11–11–24–32–11–21–1 0–4
Sangju Sangmu 2–02–02–01–03–11–02–40–01–01–01–5
Seongnam FC 1–11–20–00–20–02–00–40–11–20–21–2
FC Seoul 1–10–02–01–01–01–41–32–10–12–10–2
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 3–10–12–20–11–01–30–00–10–13–32–3
Ulsan Hyundai 1–11–11–01–14–10–22–04–01–03–00–0
Source: K League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matches 23–27

Statistics

Top goalscorers

RankPlayer [12] ClubGoals
1 Flag of Brazil.svg Júnior Negrão Ulsan Hyundai 26
2 Flag of Russia.svg Stanislav Iljutcenko Pohang Steelers 19
3 Flag of Brazil.svg Cesinha Daegu FC 18
4 Flag of Serbia.svg Aleksandar Paločević Pohang Steelers 14
5 Flag of Montenegro.svg Stefan Mugoša Incheon United 12
Flag of Brazil.svg Felipe Gwangju FC
7 Flag of South Korea.svg Han Kyo-won Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 11
8 Flag of South Korea.svg Song Min-kyu Pohang Steelers 10
9 Flag of Montenegro.svg Dejan Damjanović Daegu FC 9
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Adam Taggart Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Flag of South Korea.svg Ko Moo-yeol Gangwon FC

Top assist providers

RankPlayer [12] ClubAssists
1 Flag of South Korea.svg Kang Sang-woo Sangju Sangmu
Pohang Steelers
12
2 Flag of South Korea.svg Jeong Seung-won Daegu FC 7
3 Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Seung-dae Gangwon FC 6
Flag of Serbia.svg Aleksandar Paločević Pohang Steelers
Flag of South Korea.svg Kim In-sung Ulsan Hyundai
Flag of Colombia.svg Manuel Palacios Pohang Steelers
Flag of Russia.svg Stanislav Iljutcenko Pohang Steelers
Flag of South Korea.svg Song Min-kyu Pohang Steelers
9 Flag of South Korea.svg Son Jun-ho Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 5
1012 players4

Awards

Weekly awards

Monthly awards

MonthPlayer of the MonthManager of the MonthGoal of the Month
PlayerClubManagerClubDivisionPlayerClub
May Flag of Brazil.svg Júnior Negrão Ulsan Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Nam-il Seongnam1 Flag of South Korea.svg Cho Jae-wan Gangwon
June Flag of Brazil.svg Cesinha Daegu Flag of Portugal.svg José Morais Jeonbuk1 Flag of Brazil.svg Cesinha Daegu
July Flag of Brazil.svg Júnior Negrão Ulsan Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Do-hoon Ulsan1 Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Dong-gyeong Ulsan
August Flag of South Korea.svg Moon Seon-min Sangju Flag of South Korea.svg Nam Ki-il Jeju 2 Flag of South Korea.svg Moon Seon-min Sangju
September Flag of Montenegro.svg Stefan Mugoša Incheon Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Gi-dong Pohang1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Adam Taggart Suwon
October Flag of Russia.svg Stanislav Iljutcenko Pohang Flag of South Korea.svg Nam Ki-il Jeju 2 Flag of South Korea.svg Hong Si-hoo Seongnam

Annual awards

The 2020 K League Awards was held on 5 November 2020.

AwardWinnerClub
Most Valuable Player Flag of South Korea.svg Son Jun-ho Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Young Player of the Year Flag of South Korea.svg Song Min-kyu Pohang Steelers
Top goalscorer Flag of Brazil.svg Júnior Negrão Ulsan Hyundai
Top assist provider Flag of South Korea.svg Kang Sang-woo Sangju Sangmu
Pohang Steelers
Manager of the Year Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Gi-dong Pohang Steelers
Position Best XI
Goalkeeper Flag of South Korea.svg Jo Hyeon-woo (Ulsan)
Defenders Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Tae-hwan
(Ulsan)
Flag of South Korea.svg Kwon Kyung-won
(Sangju)
Flag of South Korea.svg Hong Jeong-ho
(Jeonbuk)
Flag of South Korea.svg Kang Sang-woo
(Sangju, Pohang)
Midfielders Flag of Serbia.svg Aleksandar Paločević
(Pohang)
Flag of Brazil.svg Cesinha
(Daegu)
Flag of South Korea.svg Son Jun-ho
(Jeonbuk)
Flag of South Korea.svg Han Kyo-won
(Jeonbuk)
Forwards Flag of Russia.svg Stanislav Iljutcenko (Pohang) Flag of Brazil.svg Júnior Negrão (Ulsan)

Attendance

Attendants who entered with free ticket are not counted.

PosTeamTotalHighLowAverageChange
1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 16,80810,53501,200−91.4%
2 Ulsan Hyundai 16,3526,97301,168−87.9%
3 FC Seoul 13,0475,4850931−91.9%
4 Daegu FC 7,2653,0300558−94.8%
5 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 7,0722,9120544−93.8%
6 Incheon United 6,8493,4280526−93.8%
7 Pohang Steelers 6,9963,2800499−94.1%
8 Seongnam FC 5,0661,6550361−93.5%
9 Gangwon FC 2,9781,9670212−92.6%
10 Gwangju FC 1,7118600131−95.8%
11 Busan IPark 1,4168300108−97.4%
12 Sangju Sangmu 1,080666083−96.5%
League total86,64010,5350534−93.3%

Updated to games played on 1 December 2020
Source: K League
Notes:
Teams that played previous season in K League 2.

See also

References

  1. Yoo, Jee-ho (1 November 2020). "Jeonbuk show championship mettle in taking record-breaking K League title". Yonhap News Agency . Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  2. K리그1 2020 시즌 2월 29일 개막 (in Korean). K League. 3 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  3. K리그 개막 무기한 연기..스포츠계 '코로나19 비상' (in Korean). Korean Broadcasting System. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  4. King, Tom (27 April 2020). "K-League to return on May 8". Sport Business. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  5. Jackson, Ed (26 April 2020). "Socceroos star Adam Taggart is back playing for his club — and he's already scoring goals". Fox Sports Australia. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  6. 노주환 (24 April 2020). "[오피셜]K리그 개막전, 5월8일 '불금' 전북-수원전 '전주성'서 무관중으로 열린다". v.daum.net (in Kanuri). Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  7. K리그 개막전, 5월8일 '불금' 전북-수원전 '전주성'서 무관중으로 열린다 (in Korean). Sports Chosun. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  8. "S. Korean pro football to add Southeast Asian player quota in 2020". Yonhap News Agency. 17 April 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  9. "News: K League to Introduce ASEAN Quota in 2020". K League United. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  10. "K League club profiles" (in Korean). K League.
  11. "K League Official Club Profiles Page".
  12. 1 2 "K League / Record". Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2020.