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 |
Most championships | Pocheon Citizen (6 titles) |
K3 League | |
Hangul | K3리그 |
---|---|
Revised Romanization | K3 Rigeu |
McCune–Reischauer | K3 Rigŭ |
The K3 League was a South Korean amateur football league held annually from 2007 to 2019. It was considered the third-highest division of the South Korean football league system before the K League 2 was launched in 2013,and the fourth-highest division since then. In 2017,it was divided into K3 League Advanced and fifth-tier league K3 League Basic,and introduced a system of promotion and relegation. In 2020,it was reborn as a semi-professional league after merging with the Korea National League.
The K3 League had an exhibition season held in two stages with ten teams in 2007. The winners of both stages and the best two clubs in the overall standings qualified for the championship playoffs and the 2008 Korean FA Cup. Seoul United became inaugural champions after winning the championship playoffs.
After the league was officially launched in 2008,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.
It was renamed the Challengers League in 2011 and the K3 Challengers League in 2014,but used original name again since 2015 after being criticised for being confused with a youth league of K League clubs (which had the same name) and the K League Challenge. [1] [2]
In 2017,it introduced a system of promotion and relegation,and was divided into the first division K3 League Advanced and the second division the K3 League Basic.
After the 2019 season,amateur level K3 League was revamped as a semi-professional league with the same name. The Korea National League and the K3 League Advanced were absorbed into the third division and were rebranded as the new K3 League.
Club | Champions | 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) |
Season | Champions | Runners-up |
---|---|---|
2017 | Seoul Jungnang | Siheung Citizen |
2018 | Siheung Citizen | Paju Citizen |
2019 | Ulsan Citizen | Jeonju Citizen |
FC Seoul is a South Korean professional football club based in Seoul that competes in the K League 1,the top flight of South Korean football. The club is owned by GS Sports,a subsidiary of GS Group. Since 2004,FC Seoul have played its home games at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul's Mapo District.
The 2008 K3 League was the second season of amateur K3 League. It consisted of two regular stage and final playoffs. The winners of each stage and the top two clubs of the overall table qualified for the league playoffs and the 2009 Korean FA Cup. The fifth-placed team also qualified for the Korean FA Cup.
The 2009 K3 League,also known as Daum K3 League 2009,was the third season of the amateur K3 League. All clubs played home and away season,and the playoffs were not held in this year. Before the start of the season,Changwon United and Seoul Pabal withdrew from the league,but Cheongju Jikji,Icheon Citizen and Seoul FC Martyrs joined the league.
The 2010 K3 League was the fourth season of amateur K3 League. The participating clubs were divided into two groups,and the winners and runners-up of both groups qualified for the championship playoffs. All clubs had interleague play once after playing home and away season in each group. Jeonju Ongoeul withdrew from the league,but Chuncheon FC and Yeonggwang FC joined the league.
The 2011 Challengers League was the fifth season of amateur K3 League. In this season,the K3 League was renamed the "Challengers League",and 16 clubs participated after Samcheok Shinwoo Electronics and Yongin Citizen withdrew from the league. The participating clubs were divided into two groups,and the winners and runners-up of both groups qualified for the championship playoffs. All clubs had interleague play once after playing home and away season in each group.
The 2012 Challengers League was the sixth season of amateur K3 League.
K League is South Korea's professional football league. It includes first division K League 1 and second division K League 2.
The 2013 Challengers League was the seventh season of amateur K3 League. The top three clubs of each group qualified for the championship playoffs after the home and away season of two groups and the interleague play. The first and second-placed team in the overall table advanced to final and semi-final respectively,and the other four clubs advanced to the first round. Bucheon FC 1995 and Namyangju United withdrew from the league,but Gimpo Citizen and Hwaseong FC joined the league. Asan United,which had moved its city to Yesan last year,returned to Asan.
The 2015 Korean FA Cup,known as the 2015 KEB Hana Bank FA Cup,was the 20th edition of the Korean FA Cup. FC Seoul became champions and qualified for the 2016 AFC Champions League.
The 2015 K3 League was the ninth season of amateur K3 League. The top three clubs of each group qualified for the championship playoffs after the home and away season of two groups and the interleague play. The first-placed team in the overall table directly qualified for the final and the other group winners advanced to the semi-final. The interleague games had to have penalty shoot-outs when they were finished as draws,and 0.5 points were awarded for a penalty shootout defeat.
The 2016 K3 League was the tenth season of amateur K3 League.
The 2016 Korean FA Cup,known as 2016 KEB Hana Bank FA Cup,was the 21st edition of the Korean FA Cup. Suwon Samsung Bluewings won their fourth FA Cup title after defeating defending champions FC Seoul in the final,and qualified for the 2017 AFC Champions League.
The 2017 K3 League Advanced was the eleventh season of amateur K3 League.
The 2017 Korean FA Cup,known as the 2017 KEB Hana Bank FA Cup,was the 22nd edition of the Korean FA Cup. The champions Ulsan Hyundai qualified for the group stage of the 2018 AFC Champions League. This edition introduced video assistant referee (VAR) system for the first time in Korean FA Cup history,using in the semi-finals and the final.
The 2018 Korean FA Cup,known as the 2018 KEB Hana Bank FA Cup,was the 23rd edition of the Korean FA Cup. Daegu FC qualified for the group stage of the 2019 AFC Champions League after becoming eventual champions.
The 2019 Korean FA Cup,known as the 2019 KEB Hana Bank FA Cup,was the 24th edition of the Korean FA Cup.
The 2019 K3 League Advanced was the 13th and last season of amateur K3 League. After the end of the 2019 season,the K3 League was relaunched as a semi-professional league by Korea Football Association (KFA).
The 2021 Korean FA Cup,known as Hana Bank FA Cup due to sponsorship agreement with Hana Bank,was the 26th edition of the Korean FA Cup. Similar to the previous year,U-League teams did not participate,and the top ten sides from the K5 League gained qualification instead.
The 2022 K3 League is the third season of the K3 League as a semi-professional league and the third tier of South Korean football league system. The regular season is from 26 February to 29 October 2022. Gimpo FC,the defending champions,is unable to defend their title,as they have been promoted to the 2022 K League 2.