Jang Seob Yoon
Research expert covering South Korea
Soccer in South Korea - statistics & facts
Soccer, known as football in South Korea, is the second-most popular professional sport in the country. Currently placed 27th in FIFA global rankings, the men’s national team is famous for reaching the semi-finals of the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup. Well-known players such as Cha Bum-kun, Park Ji-sung, and Son Heung-min hail from South Korea. The nation also boasts a wide array of professional players active overseas and in its domestic K League professional football pyramid.
Professional soccer in South Korea
The K League was established in 1983, and a second-tier league called K League 2 was also founded in 2013. The premier K League 1 consists of 12 teams competing against each other for the title, with a round-robin schedule regular season. A split of the top and bottom halves of the table culminates in the crowning of the league champions after additional final rounds. The competition attracted steady crowds before the outbreak of COVID-19, from which it is gradually recovering. Nevertheless, K League 1 continues to display overall growth, with the league committing funds towards various activities to help its expansion.Soccer is more than a sport
Soccer is a pastime enjoyed by many South Koreans in diverse ways. As the only team sport to feature on the list of leading participation sports in the country, it is the basis of a prominent video game as well. Public interest in the sport has led to regular spending on sporting goods, with fans eager to show off their support for their favorite team or player. Nike, the kit supplier of South Korean national teams, is also a prevalent brand among younger generations.
