K League 2 (South Korea) 2026/27

The K League 2 operates as the second-tier professional football competition in South Korea, sitting directly below the top-flight K League 1. Established in 2013 following a structural split of the national game, the tournament was originally branded as the K League Challenge before adopting its current name in January 2018. It serves as the primary feeder system to the premier division, while simultaneously linking with the semi-professional K3 League below.

The 2026 season marks a significant expansion, with the field growing from 14 to 17 clubs. This increase accompanies a complex promotion mechanism designed to reward high performance while maintaining competitive balance. The league champion and the runner-up secure automatic promotion to the first tier. A separate playoff bracket involves the teams finishing between third and sixth place, with the victor also earning promotion. A new feature introduced in 2026 sees the loser of this playoff face the twelfth-placed team from K League 1 in a two-legged tie.

Relegation rules have also tightened for the current campaign. For the first time, the bottom positions in the standings will drop down to the K3 League, creating a closure to the professional pyramid that did not exist in previous iterations. Historically, the title has been contested by a small group of sides. Gwangju FC, Sangju Sangmu, and Gimcheon Sangmu each hold two championships, while Incheon United claimed the most recent crown in 2025.

Attendance figures highlight the growing interest in the second tier. The highest single-match crowd recorded stands at 24,071 spectators, witnessed during an opening game featuring Suwon Samsung Bluewings. Individual accolades are dominated by An Byong-jun, who has secured the top-scorer award twice. The league distinguishes itself from the top flight not only by its tier status but also by its larger squad size and the inclusion of a relegation floor.