2026 K League 2

Last updated
Hana Bank
K League 2
Season 2026
Dates28 February – 29 November 2026
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The 2026 K League 2, also known as the Hana Bank K League 2 for sponsorship reasons, is the 14th season of the K League 2, the second-highest division in South Korean football league system.

Contents

Overview

The league has expand to 17 teams for this season. Two teams relegated from K League 1, and the twelve teams remaining in the league, two teams promoted from the K3 League and one newly established club.

K League 2 will be reduced or expanded to 15 or TBD teams starting next season, due to the expansion of K League 1 from 12 to 14 teams, no team will be automatically relegated from the top tier.

This season, Promotion and Relegation between K League 2 and K3 League have been introduce for 2026 onwards. First and second place are promoted automatically, while third and sixth place face a promotion play-off, the winner of the promotion play-off final will automatically be promoted, the loser of the promotion play-off final will face-off against the 12th place team of K League 1 (only if Gimcheon Sangmu does not finish last).

Last place in K League 2 will face -off against the Champions of K3 League in the inaugural Relegation play-off round.

Teams

Team Changes

As the 2025 K League 2 champions, Incheon United and the play-off winners Bucheon FC 1995 have been promoted to the K League 1. [1] [2] Both teams ended in the second tier after one and twelve years, respectively.

Meanwhile, Suwon FC and Daegu FC have been relegated from the K League 1. [3] [4] Daegu FC and Suwon FC return to second tier after nine and five years absence, respectively.

Additionally, Gimhae FC 2008 and Paju Frontier have been accepted into the K League 2 following a decision by the K League Federation, having participated in the K3 League since 2020 and 2021. [5] In August 2025, Yongin FC received approval to join the K League, confirming its intention to participate in the 2026 K League 2. [6] On 16 January 2026, two teams from K3 League and one newly established team will participate in K League 2 for the 2026 season after its final approval for membership in the K League Federation.

Incoming Teams
Relegated from K League 1
Accepted from K3 League
New Club
Outgoing Teams
Promoted to K League 1

Locations

The following seventeen teams are participating in the 2026 K League 2. [7]

TeamCity/ProvinceAbbreviation
Ansan Greeners Ansan Ansan
Busan IPark Busan Busan
Cheonan City Cheonan Cheonan
Chungbuk Cheongju Cheongju Chungbuk Cheongju
Chungnam Asan Asan Chungnam Asan
Daegu FC Daegu Daegu
Gimpo FC Gimpo Gimpo
Gimhae FC 2008 Gimhae Gimhae
Gyeongnam FC Gyeongnam Gyeongnam
Hwaseong FC Hwaseong Hwaseong
Jeonnam Dragons Jeonnam Jeonnam
Paju Frontier Paju Paju
Seongnam FC Seongnam Seongnam
Seoul E-Land Seoul Seoul E
Suwon Samsung Bluewings Suwon Suwon
Suwon FC Suwon Suwon FC
Yongin FC Yongin Yongin
2026 K League 2
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14km
8.7miles
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Locations of the 2026 K League 2 teams in the Seoul Capital Area

Stadiums

Ansan Greeners Busan IPark Cheonan City Chungbuk Cheongju Chungnam Asan
Ansan Wa~ Stadium Busan Gudeok Stadium Cheonan Stadium Cheongju Stadium Yi Sun-sin Stadium
Capacity: 35,000Capacity: 12,349Capacity: 26,000Capacity: 16,280Capacity: 19,283
Ansan Wa stadium3.JPG Gudeok Stadium 3.JPG Cheonan Stadium.JPG Chungbuk Cheongju pre match.jpg Yi Sun-sin Stadium1.JPG
Daegu FC Gimhae FC 2008 Gimpo FC Gyeongnam FC Hwaseong FC
Daegu iM Bank Park Gimhae Sports Complex Gimpo Solteo Football Stadium Changwon Football Center Hwaseong Stadium
Capacity: 12,415Capacity: 15,066Capacity: 5,000Capacity: 15,074Capacity: 35,270
Changwon Soccer Center 2.JPG
Jeonnam Dragons Paju Frontier Seongnam FC Seoul E-Land Suwon FC
Gwangyang Stadium Paju Stadium Tancheon Stadium Mokdong Stadium Suwon Sports Complex
Capacity: 13,496Capacity: 23,000Capacity: 16,146Capacity: 15,511Capacity: 11,808
Gwangyangstadium1.jpg Tanchon20100223 1.JPG Mokdong Stadium3.JPG
Suwon Samsung Bluewings Yongin FC
Suwon World Cup Stadium Yongin Mireu Stadium
Capacity: 44,031Capacity: 37,155
Glandbleu01.jpg

    Personnel and sponsoring

    TeamManagerMain sponsorKit manufacturer
    Ansan Greeners Flag of South Korea.svg Choi Moon-sik Ansan City Greeners Hummel
    Busan IPark Flag of South Korea.svg Jo Sung-hwan HDC Puma
    Cheonan City Flag of South Korea.svg Park Jin-sub Cheonan CitySunderland of Scotland
    Chungbuk Cheongju Flag of Portugal (official).svg Rui Quinta Sports Tribe
    Chungnam Asan Flag of South Korea.svg Lim Kwan-sik Chungnam AsanFCMM
    Daegu FC Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Byung-soo IM Bank Mizuno
    Gimhae FC 2008 Flag of South Korea.svg Son Hyun-jun Gimhae CitySports Tribe
    Gimpo FC Flag of South Korea.svg Ko Jeong-woon GoobneSunderland of Scotland
    Gyeongnam FC Flag of South Korea.svg Bae Sung-jae Nonghyup Bank Hummel
    Hwaseong FC Flag of South Korea.svg Cha Du-ri Hwaseong Special City Kelme
    Jeonnam Dragons Flag of South Korea.svg Park Dong-hyuk POSCO Reebok
    Paju Frontier Flag of Spain.svg Gerard Nus Lucell Kelme
    Seongnam FC Flag of South Korea.svg Jeon Kyung-jun Seongnam City Umbro
    Seoul E-Land Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Do-kyun E-Land New Balance
    Suwon FC Flag of South Korea.svg Park Kun-ha Suwon Special City Hummel
    Suwon Samsung Bluewings Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Jung-hyo Samsung Galaxy S26 Umbro
    Yongin FC Flag of South Korea.svg Choi Yun-kyum Yongin Special City Puma

    Managerial changes

    TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointment
    Ansan Greeners Flag of South Korea.svg Hong Seong-yo (Interim)End of Interim17 November 2025 Flag of South Korea.svg Choi Moon-sik 17 November 2025
    Cheonan City Flag of South Korea.svg Cho Sung-yong (Interim)1 December 2025 Flag of South Korea.svg Park Jin-sub 1 December 2025
    Gyeongnam FC Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Pil-jong (Interim)8 December 2025 Flag of South Korea.svg Bae Sung-jae8 December 2025
    Jeonnam Dragons Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Hyun-seok End of Contract4 December 2025 Flag of South Korea.svg Park Dong-hyuk 16 December 2025
    Chungnam Asan Flag of South Korea.svg Cho Jin-soo (Interim)End of Interim17 December 2025 Flag of South Korea.svg Lim Kwan-sik 17 December 2025
    Suwon Samsung Bluewings Flag of South Korea.svg Byun Sung-hwan Resigned7 December 2025 Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Jung-hyo 24 December 2025
    Suwon FC Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Eun-jung Mutual consent24 December 2025 Flag of South Korea.svg Park Kun-ha 24 December 2025
    Chungbuk Cheongju Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Gil-sik End of Contract12 December 2025 Flag of Portugal (official).svg Rui Quinta 30 December 2025
    Yongin FC Inaugural season Flag of South Korea.svg Choi Yun-kyum 4 January 2026

    Foreign players

    ClubPlayer 1Player 2Player 3Player 4Player 5Player 6Former players
    Ansan Greeners Flag of Brazil.svg Gabriel Lima Flag of Brazil.svg Marlon Flag of Serbia.svg Milan Obradović Flag of South Sudan.svg Machop Chol Flag of Sweden.svg Tim Hartzell
    Busan IPark Flag of Brazil.svg Cristian Renato Flag of Brazil.svg Gabriel Honório Flag of Brazil.svg Xavier
    Cheonan City Flag of Brazil.svg Bruno Lamas Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg Ivanildo Flag of Mali.svg Aboubacar Toungara
    Chungbuk Cheongju Flag of Bolivia.svg Enzo Monteiro Flag of Colombia.svg Ménder García Flag of England.svg Finley Welch Flag of Georgia.svg Irakli Bugridze Flag of Portugal (official).svg Rafael Bandeira
    Chungnam Asan Flag of Australia (converted).svg Charles Lokolingoy Flag of Brazil.svg Denisson Silva Flag of Brazil.svg Wiliam Marcílio Flag of Croatia.svg Maks Čelić
    Daegu FC Flag of Brazil.svg Cesinha Flag of Brazil.svg Edgar Flag of Brazil.svg Geovani Flag of Brazil.svg Jatobá Flag of Brazil.svg Matheus Serafim
    Gimhae FC 2008 Flag of Brazil.svg Miguel Baggio Flag of Georgia.svg Beka Mikeltadze Flag of Portugal (official).svg Bruno Costa Flag of Senegal.svg Maissa Fall
    Gimpo FC Flag of Australia (converted).svg Connor Chapman Flag of Brazil.svg Djalma Flag of Brazil.svg Luan Dias Flag of Colombia.svg Luis Mina Flag of Iraq.svg Amar Muhsin
    Gyeongnam FC Flag of Brazil.svg Danrlei Flag of Brazil.svg Felipe Fonseca Flag of Brazil.svg Lucão Flag of Montenegro.svg Aleksa Karadzić Flag of Nigeria.svg Chigozie Mbah Flag of Portugal (official).svg Rúben Macedo
    Hwaseong FC Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Aleksandar Vojnović Flag of Brazil.svg Demethryus Flag of Kosovo.svg Leonard Pllana Flag of Serbia.svg Sava Petrov
    Jeonnam Dragons Flag of Brazil.svg Ronan Flag of Brazil.svg Valdívia Flag of France.svg Keelan Lebon Flag-of-Martinique.svg Jérémy Corinus
    Paju Frontier Flag of Brazil.svg Walterson Flag of Colombia.svg Julián Bonilla Flag of Curacao.svg Jafar Arias Flag of England.svg Luke Amos Flag of Paraguay.svg Julio Báez
    Seongnam FC Flag of Brazil.svg Freitas Flag of Brazil.svg Rodrigo Angelotti Flag of Brazil.svg Venício Flag of Colombia.svg Paul Villero Flag of Japan.svg Ryoji Fujimori Flag of Japan.svg Shun Kudo
    Seoul E-Land Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Iredale Flag of Brazil.svg Alan Cariús Flag of Brazil.svg Euller Flag of Brazil.svg Gabriel Santos Flag of Spain.svg Osmar
    Suwon FC Flag of Brazil.svg Derlan Flag of Brazil.svg Matheus Frizzo Flag of Brazil.svg Willyan Flag of Brazil.svg Matheus Babi Flag of Norway.svg Martin Hoel Andersen
    Suwon Samsung Bluewings Flag of Brazil.svg Bruno Silva Flag of Brazil.svg Fessin Flag of Brazil.svg Paulo Henrique Flag of Brazil.svg Reis Flag of Russia.svg Stanislav Iljutcenko
    Yongin FC Flag of Brazil.svg Gabriel Tigrão Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg Jardel Flag of Portugal (official).svg Emanuel Novo

    League table

    PosTeam
    		PldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion or qualification
    1 Ansan Greeners 00000000Promotion to K League 1
    2 Busan IPark 00000000
    3 Cheonan City 00000000Qualification for the promotion play-offs
    4 Chungbuk Cheongju 00000000
    5 Chungnam Asan 00000000
    6 Daegu FC 00000000
    7 Gimhae FC 2008 00000000
    8 Gimpo FC 00000000
    9 Gyeongnam FC 00000000
    10 Hwaseong FC 00000000
    11 Jeonnam Dragons 00000000
    12 Paju Frontier 00000000
    13 Seongnam FC 00000000
    14 Seoul E-Land 00000000
    15 Suwon FC 00000000
    16 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 00000000
    17 Yongin FC 00000000Qualification for relegation play-off round
    First match(es) will be played: 28 February 2026. Source: K League Soccerway
    Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference; 4) Wins; 5) Head-to-head points

    Positions by matchday

      Leaders, promotion to K League 1
      Promotion to K League 1
      Qualification for promotion play-offs semi-final   Qualification for relegation play-off

    Team ╲ Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334
    Suwon FC
    Daegu FC
    Suwon Samsung Bluewings
    Seoul E-Land
    Seongnam FC
    Jeonnam Dragons
    Gimpo FC
    Busan IPark
    Chungnam Asan
    Hwaseong FC
    Gyeongnam FC
    Chungbuk Cheongju
    Cheonan City
    Ansan Greeners
    Gimhae FC 2008
    Paju Frontier
    Yongin FC
    First match(es) will be played on 28 February 2026. Source: K League

    Promotion play-off

    Bracket

    Semi-finals Final
          
    3  
    6  
     
     
    4  
    5  

    Semi-finals

    Final

    Statistics

    Top goalscorers

    RankPlayerTeamGoals

    Top assist providers

    RankPlayerTeamAssists

    Awards

    Weekly awards

    Annual awards

    AwardWinnerClub
    Most Valuable Player
    Young Player of the Year
    Top goalscorer
    Top assist provider
    Manager of the Year
    Position Best XI
    Goalkeeper
    Defenders
    Midfielders
    Forwards

    See also

    References

    1. ↑ "Bucheon FC 1995 Secures Historic Promotion to K League 1".
    2. ↑ "Incheon United Sweeps K League 2 Title, Awards, Promotion".
    3. ↑ "Daegu FC has been demoted".
    4. ↑ "Suwon FC Relegated After Benching Top Scorer Ssabak". The Chosun Daily. 9 December 2025. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
    5. ↑ 김해·용인·파주 회원가입 승인…내년 K리그2 17개 팀으로 (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 11 August 2025. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
    6. ↑ Ham, Seung-tae (18 August 2025). "용인FC, K리그2 가입 승인받아 창단 현실화" [Yongin FC confirms its foundation with approval to join K League 2]. Yonin Simin Shinmun (in Korean). Retrieved 31 December 2025.
    7. ↑ "Record" (in Korean). K League. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
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