K League 1
| Founded | 1983 |
|---|---|
| Country | South Korea |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | K League 2 |
| Domestic cup(s) | Korean FA Cup |
| International cup(s) | AFC Champions League |
| Current champions | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (2021) |
| Most championships | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (9) |
The K League 1, known as the K League Classic until 2017, is a football league which is the top division in South Korea. It is part of the K League.
Clubs
| Club | Hometown | Stadium | First Season in the Top Flight |
Current Spell in the Top Flight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daegu FC | Daegu | DGB Daegu Bank Park | 2003 | 2017- |
| Gangwon FC | Gangwon | Chuncheon Songam Stadium | 2009 | 2017- |
| Gwangju FC | Gwangju | Gwangju Football Stadium | 2011 | 2020- |
| Incheon United | Incheon | Incheon Football Stadium | 2004 | 2004- |
| Jeju United | Jeju-do | Jeju World Cup Stadium | 1983 | 2021- |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | North Jeolla | Jeonju World Cup Stadium | 1995 | 1995- |
| Pohang Steelers | Pohang | Pohang Steel Yard | 1983 | 1983- |
| Seongnam FC | Seongnam | Tancheon Stadium | 1989 | 2019- |
| FC Seoul | Seoul | Seoul World Cup Stadium | 1984 | 1984- |
| Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Suwon | Suwon World Cup Stadium | 1996 | 1996- |
| Suwon FC | Suwon | Suwon Stadium | 2016 | 2021- |
| Ulsan Hyundai | Ulsan | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium | 1984 | 1984- |
Champions
1983-2000
|
2001-
| Season | Champions | Runner-up |
| 2001 | Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma | Anyang LG Cheetahs |
| 2002 | Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma | Ulsan Hyundai Horangi |
| 2003 | Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma | Ulsan Hyundai Horangi |
| 2004 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Pohang Steelers |
| 2005 | Ulsan Hyundai Horangi | Incheon United |
| 2006 | Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
| 2007 | Pohang Steelers | Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma |
| 2008 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | FC Seoul |
| 2009 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma |
| 2010 | FC Seoul | Jeju United |
| 2011 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Ulsan Hyundai |
| 2012 | FC Seoul | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
| 2013 | Pohang Steelers | Ulsan Hyundai |
| 2014 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
| 2015 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
| 2016 | FC Seoul | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
| 2017 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Jeju United |
| 2018 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Gyeongnam FC |
| 2019 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Ulsan Hyundai |
| 2020 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Ulsan Hyundai |
| 2021 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Ulsan Hyundai |