2019 K League 1
The 2019 K League 1 was the 37th season of the top division of professional football in South Korea since its establishment in 1983 as K League, and the second season under its current name, the K League 1.
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors were the defending champions.
Promotion and relegation
Teams relegated to the 2019 K League 2Teams promoted from the 2018 K League 2
- Seongnam FC
Participating clubs by province
Club | City / Area | Manager | Joined | Owner / Sponsor |
Daegu FC | Daegu | ![]() | 2002– | Owner : Government of Daegu, Citizen Stockholder Sponsors: DGB Daegu Bank |
Gangwon FC | Gangwon | ![]() | 2009– | Owner : Government of Gangwon, Citizen Stockholder Sponsors: high1 |
Gyeongnam FC | Gyeongsangnam-do | ![]() | 2008– | Owner : Government of Gyeongsangnam-do, Citizen Stockholder |
Incheon United | Incheon | ![]() | 2004– | Owners : Government of Incheon, Citizen Stockholder Sponsors: Shinhan Bank, Incheon International Airport |
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Jeonbuk | ![]() | 1995– | Owner : Hyundai Motor Company in Hyundai Motor Group Sponsors: Hyundai Motor Company, Hummel |
Jeju United | Jeju | ![]() | 1983– | Owner : SK Energy in SK Group Sponsors: SK enclean |
Pohang Steelers | Pohang | ![]() | 1983– | Owner : POSCO Sponsors: POSCO, Pohang City Hall |
Sangju Sangmu | Sangju | ![]() | 2011– | Owner : Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps |
Seongnam FC | Seongnam | ![]() | 1988– | Owner : Government of Seongnam, Citizen Stockholder |
FC Seoul | Seoul | ![]() | 1984– | Owner : GS Group Sponsors: GS Shop |
Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Suwon | ![]() | 1996– | Owner : Cheil Worldwide in Samsung Sponsors: Samsung Electronics, Maeil Dairies Industry |
Ulsan Hyundai | Ulsan | ![]() | 1984– | Owner : Hyundai Heavy Industries in Hyundai Heavy Industries Group Sponsors: Hyundai Oil Bank, Hyundai Heavy Industries |
Stadiums
- Primary venues used in the K League 1:
Daegu FC | Gangwon FC | Gyeongnam FC | Incheon United | Jeju United | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
DGB Daegu Bank Park | Chuncheon Songam Leports Town | Changwon Football Center | Incheon Football Stadium | Jeju World Cup Stadium | Jeonju World Cup Stadium |
Capacity: 12,415 | Capacity: 20,000 | Capacity: 20,245 | Capacity: 20,891 | Capacity: 35,657 | Capacity: 42,477 |
Pohang Steelers | Sangju Sangmu | Seongnam FC | FC Seoul | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Ulsan Hyundai |
Pohang Steel Yard | Sangju Civic Stadium | Tancheon Stadium | Seoul World Cup Stadium | Suwon World Cup Stadium | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium |
Capacity: 17,443 | Capacity: 15,042 | Capacity: 16,146 | Capacity: 66,704 | Capacity: 43,959 | Capacity: 44,102 |
Foreign players
Restricting the number of foreign players strictly to four per team, including a slot for a player from AFC countries. A team could use four foreign players on the field each game including at least one player from the AFC confederation.Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.
Club | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 | AFC Player |
Daegu FC | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Gangwon FC | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Gyeongnam FC | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Incheon United | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Jeju United | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Pohang Steelers | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Seongnam FC | ![]() | ![]() | ||
FC Seoul | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Suwon Samsung Bluewings | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Ulsan Hyundai | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
League table
Positions by matchday
Round 1–22
Round 23–38
Split rounds are from round 34 to round 38Results
Matches 1–22
Teams play each other twice, once at home, once away.Pohang Steelers were leading Gangwon FC 4-0 away after 70 minutes, but Gangwon scored 5 unanswered goals to win 5-4.
Matches 23–33
Teams play every other team once.Matches 34–38
After 33 matches, the league splits into two sections of six teams each, with teams playing every other team in their section once. The exact matches are determined upon the league table at the time of the split.Final A
Final B
Promotion-relegation playoffs
The promotion-relegation playoffs were held between the winners of the 2019 K League 2 Playoff and the 11th-placed club of the 2019 K League 1.First leg
Second leg
Season statistics
Top scorers
Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
1 | ![]() | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 20 |
2 | ![]() | Ulsan Hyundai | 19 |
3 | ![]() | Daegu FC | 15 |
3 | ![]() | Pohang Steelers | 15 |
5 | ![]() | Incheon United | 14 |
6 | ![]() | Gangwon FC / Gyeongnam FC | 13 |
6 | ![]() | Ulsan Hyundai | 13 |
8 | ![]() | Sangju Sangmu | 12 |
9 | ![]() | Daegu FC | 11 |
9 | ![]() | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 11 |
Top assists
Rank | Player | Club | Assists |
1 | ![]() | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 10 |
1 | ![]() | Daegu FC | 10 |
3 | ![]() | Ulsan Hyundai | 9 |
3 | ![]() | Pohang Steelers | 9 |
5 | ![]() | Pohang Steelers / Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 8 |
6 | ![]() | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 7 |
6 | ![]() | Ulsan Hyundai | 7 |
6 | ![]() | FC Seoul | 7 |
6 | ![]() | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 7 |
10 | ![]() | Gyeongnam FC / Gangwon FC | 6 |
10 | ![]() | Gangwon FC | 6 |
10 | ![]() | FC Seoul | 6 |
Attendance
Awards
Most Valuable Player of The Round
MVP | Club | |
1 | ![]() | Daegu FC |
2 | ![]() | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
3 | ![]() | Pohang Steelers |
4 | ![]() | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
5 | ![]() | Daegu FC |
6 | ![]() | FC Seoul |
7 | ![]() | Ulsan Hyundai |
8 | ![]() | Gangwon FC |
9 | ![]() | Ulsan Hyundai |
10 | ![]() | Pohang Steelers |
11 | ![]() | FC Seoul |
12 | ![]() | Pohang Steelers |
13 | ![]() | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
14 | ![]() | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
15 | ![]() | FC Seoul |
16 | ![]() | FC Seoul |
17 | ![]() | Gangwon FC |
18 | ![]() | Gangwon FC |
19 | ![]() | Gangwon FC |
MVP | Club | |
20 | ![]() | Jeju United |
21 | ![]() | Daegu FC |
22 | ![]() | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
23 | ![]() | Ulsan Hyundai |
24 | ![]() | Ulsan Hyundai |
25 | ![]() | Gyeongnam FC |
26 | ![]() | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
27 | ![]() | Pohang Steelers |
28 | ![]() | Incheon United |
29 | ![]() | Gangwon FC |
30 | ![]() | Pohang Steelers |
31 | ![]() | Incheon United |
32 | ![]() | Sangju Sangmu |
33 | ![]() | Pohang Steelers |
34 | ![]() | Gangwon FC |
35 | ![]() | Ulsan Hyundai |
36 | ![]() | Ulsan Hyundai |
37 | ![]() | Daegu FC |
38 | ![]() | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
Monthly Awards
Season Awards
The 2019 K League Awards was held on 2 December 2019.K League Most Valuable Player
- The K League Most Valuable Player award was won by Kim Bo-kyung.
K League Young Player
- The K League Young Player award was won by Kim Ji-hyeon.
K League Top Scorer
- The K League Top Scorer award was won by Adam Taggart.
K League Top Assistor
- The K League Top Assistor award was won by Moon Seon-min.
K League Best XI
2019 K League 1 Best XI |
Position | Player | Club |
Goalkeeper | ![]() | Daegu FC |
Defender | ![]() | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
Defender | ![]() | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
Defender | ![]() | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
Defender | ![]() | Ulsan Hyundai |
Midfielder | ![]() | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
Midfielder | ![]() | Ulsan Hyundai |
Midfielder | ![]() | Daegu FC |
Midfielder | ![]() | Pohang Steelers |
Forward | ![]() | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
Forward | ![]() | Ulsan Hyundai |
K League Manager of the Year
- The K League Manager of the Year award was won by José Morais.