Take a look at every winner of the K League since Hallelujah FC lifted the title in 1983.
The K League was introduced as the top flight of South Korean men's football in 1983, starting with just five teams (Hallelujah FC, Yukong Elephants, Pohang Steelworks, Daewoo Royals, Kookmin Bank).
Hallelujah FC were the winners of the first campaign, beating Daewoo Royals to the league by a point.
The league now consists of 12 teams, where each club plays each other three times in the regular round, before the top and bottom six teams are split into two sections, in which a team plays every other team in the split once to decide the final standings.
Ulsan HD were the winners of the 2024 campaign, taking their K League title tally to five.
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors top the list with the most honours, winning the competition nine times. Their last K League success was in 2021.
K League winners list
Year: | Winner: | Runners-up: |
1983 | Hallelujah FC | Daewoo Royals |
1984 | Daewoo Royals | Yukong Elephants |
1985 | Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso | POSCO Atoms |
1986 | POSCO Atoms | Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso |
1987 | Daewoo Royals | POSCO Atoms |
1988 | POSCO Atoms | Hyundai Horang-i |
1989 | Yukong Elephants | Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso |
1990 | Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso | Daewoo Royals |
1991 | Daewoo Royals | Hyundai Horang-i |
1992 | POSCO Atoms | Ilhwa Chunma |
1993 | Ilhwa Chunma | LG Cheetahs |
1994 | Ilhwa Chunma | Yukong Elephants |
1995 | Ilhwa Chunma | Pohang Atoms |
1996 | Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
1997 | Busan Daewoo Royals | Jeonnam Dragons |
1998 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i |
1999 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Busan Daewoo Royals |
2000 | Anyang LG Cheetahs | Bucheon SK |
2001 | Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma | Anyang LG Cheetahs |
2002 | Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma | Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i |
2003 | Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma | Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i |
2004 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Pohang Steelers |
2005 | Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i | 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 |
2022 | Ulsan Hyundai | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
2023 | Ulsan Hyundai | Pohang Steelers |
2024 | Ulsan HD | Gangwon FC |
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