The 'first ever' second division → third division relegation team can come out, officially announcing the expansion of the K-League promotion system

*This content was translated by AI.

Now, even the lower-ranked teams in the K League 2 cannot be free from the "horror of relegation." This is as the introduction of the promotion system between K League 2 and K3 League was confirmed. In other words, the first "unknown club" will be demoted from the K League 2 to the K3 League.

The Korea Professional Football Federation held its first board meeting and regular general meeting at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul on the 16th and voted on agendas such as implementing a promotion system between the K League 2 and the K3 League. The promotion between the K League 2 and K3 League will take place in the 2027 season through the final league performance in the 2026 season.

Until now, the K-League promotion system has been introduced only between K-League 1 and K-League 2. Last season, Daegu FC, the lowest team in the K League 1, was directly demoted, and Incheon United, the winner of the K League 2, was directly promoted. Jeju SK, the 11th-ranked team in the K League 1, Suwon Samsung, the runner-up team in the K League 2, Suwon FC, the 10th-ranked team in the K League 1, and Bucheon FC, the winning team in the K League 2 playoffs (PO), respectively made the PO to confirm Jeju's remaining in the K League 1 and Bucheon's promotion.

On the other hand, there was no promotion between the K League 2 and K3 League. While the lower-ranked teams in the K League 1 have been competing for survival every season, the lower-ranked teams in the K League 2 had no risk of relegation. Naturally, many of the lower-ranked teams in the K League 2 have lost motivation since the middle of the season, and there is no risk of relegation, so there are many clubs that only invest or support the status quo.

However, from now on, the lowest team in the K League 2 can also be relegated to the K3 League. The K League 2 can survive only if it wins the K3 League No. 1 team and the promotion match. If they lose, the lowest team in the K League 2 will be relegated to the K3 League next season. In some cases, a team that once stayed in the K League 1 may fall to the K3 League through the K League 2. The promotion match will be held in a single match at the home stadium of the lowest team in K League 2.

However, the competition for the promotion is not unconditionally held. Only when the team ranked first in the K3 League has acquired the K League 2 club license will the match be held. Clubs willing to be promoted to K League 2 must apply for K League 2 club licenses in February and acquire them by June. If a team that fails to acquire a K-League 2 club license ranks first in the K3 League, the promotion decision between the K-League 2 and the K3 League will not be held. When a team that has the will to advance to the professional league and furthermore, the qualifying team ranks first in the K3 League, it will be given a chance to play in the promotion match.

The introduction of the K-League promotion system between the K-League 2 and the K3 League will link the K-League promotion system from the 1st to the 3rd, but the newly established club does not necessarily start with the K3 League. At the board meeting, the Korea Professional Football Federation decided to implement a fast-track system that allows local governments with a population of more than 500,000 or clubs run or founded by Korea's top 200 companies to join the K-League immediately rather than the K3 League.

The federation is scheduled to announce the K League 2 schedule for the new season on the 19th and 20th at the latest.

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*This content was translated by AI.