41st season of the top division of professional football in South Korea
Football league season
The2023 K League 1 , also known as theHana 1Q K League 1 for sponsorship reasons, was the 41st season of the top division of professionalfootball inSouth Korea , and the eleventh season of theK League 1 . Defending championsUlsan Hyundai successfully defended their title.[ 1]
After progressing 33 regular rounds as ever, the league was divided into two groups, the top six and the bottom six, and each team played five matches against other teams in its group.
Gwangju FC andDaejeon Hana Citizen (both promoted after absences of one and seven years, respectively) were promoted from the2022 K League 2 .Gimcheon Sangmu andSeongnam FC (both relegated after one and four years in the top flight, respectively) were relegated to2023 K League 2 .
Locations of the 2023 K League 1 teams
The following twelve clubs competed in the K League 1 during the 2023 season.[ 2]
Jeju United Daegu FC Incheon United Jeju World Cup Stadium DGB Daegu Bank Park Incheon Football Stadium Capacity:29,791 Capacity:12,415 Capacity:20,891 Pohang Steelers Suwon FC Daejeon Hana Citizen Pohang Steel Yard Suwon Stadium Daejeon World Cup Stadium Capacity:17,443 Capacity:11,808 Capacity:40,903 FC Seoul Ulsan Hyundai Suwon Samsung Bluewings Seoul World Cup Stadium Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium Suwon World Cup Stadium Capacity:66,704 Capacity:44,102 Capacity:44,031 Gwangju FC Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Gwangju Football Stadium Jeonju World Cup Stadium Capacity:10,007 Capacity:42,477 Gangwon FC Chuncheon Songam Leports Town Gangneung Stadium Capacity:20,000 Capacity:22,333
Personnel and sponsoring [ edit ] The number of allowed foreign players was kept strictly to six per team, including a guaranteed slot for a player from theAsian Football Confederation countries. Teams could field at most five foreign players at any given time, including at least one player from the AFC confederation.
North Korean playerAn Byong-jun , who played forSuwon Samsung Bluewings , was deemed as a native player bySouth Korean nationality law .
Players inbold were registered during the mid-season transfer window.
Source:
Soccerway ,
K League Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference; 4) Wins; 5) Head-to-head points
(C) Champions;
(O) Play-off winners;
(R) Relegated
Notes:
^ Teams played each other three times (33 matches), before the league was split into two groups, the top six and the bottom six. ^ Since second-placed team Pohang Steelers qualified for the Champions League Elite as theKorean FA Cup champions, the spot given to the second-placed team was passed to the third-placed team.[ 3] Positions by matchday [ edit ] Leader, and qualification forChampions League Elite league stage Qualification forChampions League Elite league stage Qualification forChampions League 2 group stage Qualification forrelegation play-offs Relegation toK League 2
Teams played each other twice, once at home, once away.[ 4]
Source:
K League Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Matchday 1 (25–26 February)
25 February 2023 (2023-02-25 )
Ulsan Hyundai 2–1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
25 February 2023 (2023-02-25 )
FC Seoul 2–1 Incheon United
25 February 2023 (2023-02-25 )
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 0–1 Gwangju FC Asani 88'
26 February 2023 (2023-02-26 )
26 February 2023 (2023-02-26 )
Pohang Steelers 3–2 Daegu FC
26 February 2023 (2023-02-26 )
Daejeon Hana Citizen 2–0 Gangwon FC
^ Kick-off time was delayed due to the problem of electric power of Pohang Steel Yard.
Matchday 2 (4–5 March)
4 March 2023 (2023-03-04 )
4 March 2023 (2023-03-04 )
4 March 2023 (2023-03-04 )
5 March 2023 (2023-03-05 )
5 March 2023 (2023-03-05 )
5 March 2023 (2023-03-05 )
Matchday 3 (11–12 March)
11 March 2023 (2023-03-11 )
11 March 2023 (2023-03-11 )
Daejeon Hana Citizen 0–0 Pohang Steelers
11 March 2023 (2023-03-11 )
12 March 2023 (2023-03-12 )
12 March 2023 (2023-03-12 )
12 March 2023 (2023-03-12 )
Matchday 4 (18–19 March)
18 March 2023 (2023-03-18 )
18 March 2023 (2023-03-18 )
18 March 2023 (2023-03-18 )
19 March 2023 (2023-03-19 )
19 March 2023 (2023-03-19 )
19 March 2023 (2023-03-19 )
Matchday 5 (1–2 April)
1 April 2023 (2023-04-01 )
Jeonju World Cup Stadium ,
Jeonju 1 April 2023 (2023-04-01 )
1 April 2023 (2023-04-01 )
Incheon United 0–0 Daegu FC
1 April 2023 (2023-04-01 )
2 April 2023 (2023-04-02 )
2 April 2023 (2023-04-02 )
Suwon World Cup Stadium ,
Suwon
Matchday 6 (8–9 April)
8 April 2023 (2023-04-08 )
Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium ,Ulsan
8 April 2023 (2023-04-08 )
Seoul World Cup Stadium ,Seoul
8 April 2023 (2023-04-08 )
9 April 2023 (2023-04-09 )
Suwon Sports Complex ,Suwon
9 April 2023 (2023-04-09 )
Jeonju World Cup Stadium ,Jeonju
9 April 2023 (2023-04-09 )
Matchday 7 (15–16 April)
15 April 2023 (2023-04-15 )
Suwon World Cup Stadium ,Suwon
15 April 2023 (2023-04-15 )
15 April 2023 (2023-04-15 )
Suwon FC 1–0 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Veldwijk 27'
Suwon Sports Complex ,Suwon
16 April 2023 (2023-04-16 )
Chuncheon Song-am Sports Town ,Chuncheon
16 April 2023 (2023-04-16 )
Daejeon World Cup Stadium ,Daejeon
Attendance: 16,359
16 April 2023 (2023-04-16 )
DGB Daegu Bank Park ,Daegu
Matchday 8 (22–23 April)
22 April 2023 (2023-04-22 )
22 April 2023 (2023-04-22 )
DGB Daegu Bank Park ,
Daegu 22 April 2023 (2023-04-22 )
22 April 2023 (2023-04-22 )
23 April 2023 (2023-04-23 )
23 April 2023 (2023-04-23 )
Matchday 9 (25–26 April)
25 April 2023 (2023-04-25 )
Incheon Football Stadium ,Incheon
25 April 2023 (2023-04-25 )
26 April 2023 (2023-04-26 )
Gwangju Football Stadium ,Gwangju
26 April 2023 (2023-04-26 )
Chuncheon Song-am Sports Town ,Chuncheon
26 April 2023 (2023-04-26 )
Suwon Sports Complex ,Suwon
26 April 2023 (2023-04-26 )
Jeonju World Cup Stadium ,Jeonju
Matchday 10 (29–30 April)
29 April 2023 (2023-04-29 )
Suwon Sports Complex ,Suwon
29 April 2023 (2023-04-29 )
Jeonju World Cup Stadium ,Jeonju
30 April 2023 (2023-04-30 )
Daejeon World Cup Stadium ,Daejeon
30 April 2023 (2023-04-30 )
30 April 2023 (2023-04-30 )
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 0–1 Daegu FC Edgar 54'
Suwon World Cup Stadium ,Suwon
30 April 2023 (2023-04-30 )
Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium ,Ulsan
Matchday 11 (5–6 May)
Seoul World Cup Stadium ,Seoul
DGB Daegu Bank Park ,Daegu
Incheon United 0–1 Suwon Samsung Bluewings Lee Ki-je 30'
Incheon Football Stadium ,Incheon
Jeju World Cup Stadium ,Seogwipo, Jeju Province
Suwon Sports Complex ,Suwon
Gwangju FC 0–0 Daejeon Hana Citizen
Gwangju Football Stadium(Gwangju World Cup Stadium 2) ,Gwangju
Matchday 12 (9–10 May)
Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium ,Ulsan
DGB Daegu Bank Park ,Daegu
Seoul World Cup Stadium ,Seoul
Jeju World Cup Stadium ,Seogwipo, Jeju Province
Suwon World Cup Stadium ,Suwon
Daejeon World Cup Stadium ,Daejeon
Matchday 13 (13–14 May)
Gwangju Football Stadium(Gwangju World Cup Stadium 2) ,Gwangju
Chuncheon Songam Sports Town ,Chuncheon
Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium ,Ulsan
Incheon United 0–0 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Incheon Football Stadium ,Incheon
Suwon Sports Complex ,Suwon
Matchday 14 (20–21 May)
Incheon Football Stadium ,Incheon
Seoul World Cup Stadium ,Seoul
Daejeon World Cup Stadium ,Daejeon
Gangwon FC 0–0 Pohang Steelers
Chuncheon Songam Sports Town ,Chuncheon
Jeonju World Cup Stadium ,Jeonju
Matchday 15 (27–28 May)
Jeju World Cup Stadium ,Seogwipo, Jeju Province
DGB Daegu Bank Park ,Daegu
Seoul World Cup Stadium ,Seoul
Suwon Sports Complex ,Suwon
Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium ,Ulsan
Matchday 17 (6–7 June)
Suwon Sports Complex ,Suwon
Gwangju Football Stadium ,Gwangju
Jeonju World Cup Stadium ,Jeonju
Incheon Football Stadium ,Incheon
Chuncheon Song-am Sports Town ,Chuncheon
Matchday 18 (10–11 June)
10 June 2023 (2023-06-10 )
DGB Daegu Bank Park ,Daegu
10 June 2023 (2023-06-10 )
Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium ,Ulsan
10 June 2023 (2023-06-10 )
Daejeon World Cup Stadium ,Daejeon
11 June 2023 (2023-06-11 )
Chuncheon Song-am Sports Town ,Chuncheon
11 June 2023 (2023-06-11 )
Seoul World Cup Stadium ,Seoul
Attendance: 18,108
11 June 2023 (2023-06-11 )
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 0–0 Incheon United
Suwon World Cup Stadium ,Suwon
Matchday 19 (24–25 June)
24 June 2023 (2023-06-24 )
24 June 2023 (2023-06-24 )
Jeju World Cup Stadium ,Seogwipo, Jeju Province
24 June 2023 (2023-06-24 )
Gwangju Football Stadium ,Gwangju
24 June 2023 (2023-06-24 )
Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium ,Ulsan
25 June 2023 (2023-06-25 )
Incheon United 0–1 Pohang Steelers Zeca 12'
Incheon Football Stadium ,Incheon
25 June 2023 (2023-06-25 )
Suwon Sports Complex ,Suwon
Matchday 20 (1–2 July)
Jeonju World Cup Stadium ,Jeonju
DGB Daegu Bank Park ,Daegu
FC Seoul 0–0 Daejeon Hana Citizen
Seoul World Cup Stadium ,Seoul
Gwangju Football Stadium ,Gwangju
Incheon Football Stadium ,Incheon
Matchday 21 (7–9 July)
Gangneung Stadium ,Gangneung
Jeju World Cup Stadium ,Seogwipo, Jeju Province
Suwon Sports Complex ,Suwon
Jeonju World Cup Stadium ,Jeonju
Daejeon World Cup Stadium ,Daejeon
Matchday 22 (11–12 July)
11 July 2023 (2023-07-11 )
DGB Daegu Bank Park ,Daegu
11 July 2023 (2023-07-11 )
Jeju World Cup Stadium ,Seogwipo, Jeju Province
12 July 2023 (2023-07-12 )
Ulsan Munsu Stadium ,Ulsan
12 July 2023 (2023-07-12 )
Seoul World Cup Stadium ,Seoul
12 July 2023 (2023-07-12 )
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 1–1 Pohang Steelers Mulić 62' Zeca 79' (pen. )
Suwon World Cup Stadium ,Suwon
12 July 2023 (2023-07-12 )
Daejeon World Cup Stadium ,Daejeon
Teams played each other once, either at home or away.
Source:
K League Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Matchday 23 (15–16 July)
15 July 2023 (2023-07-15 )
Suwon World Cup Stadium ,Suwon
15 July 2023 (2023-07-15 )
Gangneung Stadium ,Gangneung
15 July 2023 (2023-07-15 )
Gwangju Football Stadium ,Gwangju
16 July 2023 (2023-07-16 )
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1–0 Suwon FC Gustavo 13'
Jeonju World Cup Stadium ,Jeonju
16 July 2023 (2023-07-16 )
16 July 2023 (2023-07-16 )
Incheon Football Stadium ,Incheon
Matchday 24 (21–22 July)
21 July 2023 (2023-07-21 )
21 July 2023 (2023-07-21 )
Ulsan Munsu Stadium ,Ulsan
22 July 2023 (2023-07-22 )
Suwon Sports Complex ,Suwon
22 July 2023 (2023-07-22 )
Gangneung Stadium ,Gangneung
22 July 2023 (2023-07-22 )
FC Seoul 0–1 Incheon United M'Poku 45'
Seoul World Cup Stadium ,Seoul
22 July 2023 (2023-07-22 )
Daejeon World Cup Stadium ,Daejeon
Matchday 25 (4–6 August)
4 August 2023 (2023-08-04 )
Seoul World Cup Stadium ,
Seoul 4 August 2023 (2023-08-04 )
5 August 2023 (2023-08-05 )
Suwon World Cup Stadium ,
Suwon 5 August 2023 (2023-08-05 )
DGB Daegu Bank Park ,
Daegu 6 August 2023 (2023-08-06 )
Jeonju World Cup Stadium ,
Jeonju 6 August 2023 (2023-08-06 )
Matchday 26 (12–13 August)
12 August 2023 (2023-08-12 )
Jeonju World Cup Stadium ,
Jeonju 12 August 2023 (2023-08-12 )
12 August 2023 (2023-08-12 )
Jeju United 3–0 Suwon FC Yuri 35' ,45+3' Reis 63'
13 August 2023 (2023-08-13 )
13 August 2023 (2023-08-13 )
13 August 2023 (2023-08-13 )
Matchday 27 (18–20 August)
18 August 2023 (2023-08-18 )
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 1–0 Jeju United Bulthuis 85'
Suwon World Cup Stadium ,
Suwon Attendance: 7,258
18 August 2023 (2023-08-18 )
19 August 2023 (2023-08-19 )
19 August 2023 (2023-08-19 )
19 August 2023 (2023-08-19 )
Seoul World Cup Stadium ,
Seoul 20 August 2023 (2023-08-20 )
Matchday 28 (25–27 August)
25 August 2023 (2023-08-25 )
25 August 2023 (2023-08-25 )
26 August 2023 (2023-08-26 )
26 August 2023 (2023-08-26 )
27 August 2023 (2023-08-27 )
27 August 2023 (2023-08-27 )
Matchday 29 (1–3 September)
1 September 2023 (2023-09-01 )
1 September 2023 (2023-09-01 )
2 September 2023 (2023-09-02 )
2 September 2023 (2023-09-02 )
3 September 2023 (2023-09-03 )
3 September 2023 (2023-09-03 )
Matchday 30 (16–17 September)
16 September 2023 (2023-09-16 )
Jeonju World Cup Stadium ,Jeonju
16 September 2023 (2023-09-16 )
Incheon Football Stadium ,Incheon
16 September 2023 (2023-09-16 )
Pohang Steelers 2–0 Suwon FC Zeca 29' ,45'
16 September 2023 (2023-09-16 )
Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium ,Ulsan
17 September 2023 (2023-09-17 )
Seoul World Cup Stadium ,Seoul
17 September 2023 (2023-09-17 )
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 0–1 Daegu FC Barcellos 90+'
Suwon World Cup Stadium ,Suwon
Matchday 31 (23–24 September)
23 September 2023 (2023-09-23 )
Daejeon World Cup Stadium ,Daejeon
23 September 2023 (2023-09-23 )
Jeju World Cup Stadium ,Seogwipo, Jeju Province
24 September 2023 (2023-09-24 )
Suwon Sports Complex ,Suwon
24 September 2023 (2023-09-24 )
Gwangju Football Stadium ,Gwangju
24 September 2023 (2023-09-24 )
Gangneung Stadium ,Gangneung
24 September 2023 (2023-09-24 )
Daegu FC 0–0 Pohang Steelers
DGB Daegu Bank Park ,Daegu
Matchday 32 (30 September – 1 October)
30 September 2023 (2023-09-30 )
Suwon Sports Complex ,Suwon
30 September 2023 (2023-09-30 )
Pohang Steelers 0–0 Ulsan Hyundai
30 September 2023 (2023-09-30 )
Jeonju World Cup Stadium ,Jeonju
30 September 2023 (2023-09-30 )
Incheon Football Stadium ,Incheon
1 October 2023 (2023-10-01 )
Gangneung Stadium ,Gangneung
1 October 2023 (2023-10-01 )
Jeju World Cup Stadium ,Seogwipo, Jeju Province
Matchday 33 (8 October)
8 October 2023 (2023-10-08 )
DGB Daegu Bank Park ,Daegu
8 October 2023 (2023-10-08 )
Daejeon World Cup Stadium ,Daejeon
8 October 2023 (2023-10-08 )
Gwangju Football Stadium ,Gwangju
8 October 2023 (2023-10-08 )
Seoul World Cup Stadium ,Seoul
8 October 2023 (2023-10-08 )
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 1–0 Pohang Steelers Kim Ju-chan 23'
Suwon World Cup Stadium ,Suwon
8 October 2023 (2023-10-08 )
Ulsan Hyundai 0–0 Incheon United
Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium ,Ulsan
Teams played each other once, either at home or away.
Source:
K League Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Matchday 34 (20–21 October)
20 October 2023 (2023-10-20 )
21 October 2023 (2023-10-21 )
21 October 2023 (2023-10-21 )
Matchday 35 (28–29 October)
28 October 2023 (2023-10-28 )
28 October 2023 (2023-10-28 )
29 October 2023 (2023-10-29 )
Matchday 36 (11–12 November)
11 November 2023 (2023-11-11 )
12 November 2023 (2023-11-12 )
12 November 2023 (2023-11-12 )
Matchday 37 (24–25 November)
24 November 2023 (2023-11-24 )
25 November 2023 (2023-11-25 )
25 November 2023 (2023-11-25 )
Matchday 38 (3 December)
3 December 2023 (2023-12-03 )
3 December 2023 (2023-12-03 )
3 December 2023 (2023-12-03 )
Source:
K League Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Matchday 34 (22 October)
22 October 2023 (2023-10-22 )
22 October 2023 (2023-10-22 )
22 October 2023 (2023-10-22 )
Matchday 35 (28–29 October)
28 October 2023 (2023-10-28 )
29 October 2023 (2023-10-29 )
29 October 2023 (2023-10-29 )
Matchday 36 (11–12 November)
11 November 2023 (2023-11-11 )
11 November 2023 (2023-11-11 )
12 November 2023 (2023-11-12 )
Matchday 37 (25 November)
25 November 2023 (2023-11-25 )
25 November 2023 (2023-11-25 )
25 November 2023 (2023-11-25 )
Matchday 38 (2 December)
2 December 2023 (2023-12-02 )
2 December 2023 (2023-12-02 )
2 December 2023 (2023-12-02 )
Relegation play-offs [ edit ] The tenth-placed team and the eleventh-placed team played against the play-offs winners and the runners-up of the K League 2, respectively, in the relegation play-offs.
6 December 2023 (2023-12-06 )
Attendance: 3,736
Referee: Jeong Dong-sik
9 December 2023 (2023-12-09 )
Attendance: 10,130
Referee: Lee Dong-jun
Gangwon FC won 2–1 on aggregate and therefore both clubs remain in their respective leagues.
6 December 2023 (2023-12-06 )
9 December 2023 (2023-12-09 )
Suwon FC won 6–4 on aggregate and therefore both clubs remain in their respective leagues.
Joo Min-kyu , who appeared in less time thanTiago Orobó , won thetop goalscorer award .[ 5]
Top assist providers [ edit ] The 2023 K League Awards was held on 4 December 2023.[ 7]
Attendants who entered with free ticket are not counted.
Pos Team Total High Low Average Change 1 FC Seoul 430,029 45,007 10,236 22,663 +157.9% † 2 Ulsan Hyundai 345,990 30,756 5,318 18,210 +108.3% † 3 Daejeon Hana Citizen 244,274 20,592 8,377 12,857 +466.4% † 4 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 238,759 27,797 5,067 12,566 +108.8% † 5 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 224,177 24,932 4,727 11,799 +101.7% † 6 Daegu FC 208,340 12,334 6,943 10,965 +71.0% † 7 Incheon United 169,826 15,738 5,076 8,938 +69.9% † 8 Pohang Steelers 164,295 14,640 3,080 8,647 +81.1% † 9 Gangwon FC 122,772 11,084 2,581 6,462 +198.5% † 10 Jeju United 114,015 10,041 3,280 6,001 +90.4% † 11 Suwon FC 98,580 9,221 1,605 5,188 +64.1% † 12 Gwangju FC 86,090 7,357 1,871 4,831 +269.6% † League total 2,447,147 45,007 1,605 10,733 +122.7% †
Updated to games played on 1 December 2023 Source:K League Notes: † Teams that played previous season in K League 2.
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