Founded | 2009 |
---|---|
Country | South Korea |
Confederation | AFC (Asia) |
Number of teams | 8 |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
International cup(s) | AFC Women's Club Championship |
Current champions |
Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels ( 2023) |
Most championships |
Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels (11 titles) |
Website | kwff.or.kr |
Current: 2024 WK League |
The WK League ( Hangul: WK리그) is a semi-professional women's football league, [1] [2] run by the Korea Football Association (KFA) and the Korea Women's Football Federation (KWFF), which represents the sport's highest level in South Korea. [3]
Icheon Daekyo won the inaugural edition of the WK League in 2009 and won two more titles in 2011 and 2012. Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels are the most successful team in the league, having won eleven consecutive titles since 2013. [4]
During the regular season, contested from March to September, each team plays a total of 28 games, playing four times against each of the other seven teams. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points. [5]
In the case that teams are level on points, tie-breakers are applied in the following order:
Then, the second and third-placed teams of the regular season face off in a one-legged semi-final, with the winners facing the first-placed team of the regular season in a two-legged championship game. The remaining teams are ranked from fourth to eighth. [5]
The regular season was reduced to 21 games in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea. [6] [7] [8] [9] A shortened season was maintained in 2022 due to the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup and the 2022 Asian Games, and again in 2023 due to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. [10] [11] [12] [13] The 2024 edition of the league saw a return to the 28-round regular season. [14] [15]
The WK League is the only women's league in the country and as such there is no relegation system in place.
Team | Location | Stadium | First season | Current spell | Seasons [a] | Last title |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Changnyeong WFC | Changnyeong | Changnyeong Sports Park | 2018 | 2018–present | 6 | — |
Gyeongju KHNP | Gyeongju | Gyeongju Football Park | 2017 | 2017–present | 7 | — |
Hwacheon KSPO | Hwacheon | Hwacheon Stadium | 2011 | 2011–present | 13 | — |
Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels | Incheon | Incheon Namdong Asiad Rugby Field | 2009 | 2009–present | 15 | 2023 |
Mungyeong Sangmu | Mungyeong | Mungyeong Civic Stadium | 2009 | 2009–present | 15 | — |
Sejong Sportstoto | Sejong | Sejong Central Park | 2011 | 2011–present | 13 | — |
Seoul WFC | Seoul | Seoul World Cup Stadium Auxiliary Pitch | 2009 | 2009–present | 15 | — |
Suwon FC | Suwon | Suwon Sports Complex | 2009 | 2009–present | 15 | 2010 |
Club | First season | Last season |
---|---|---|
Chungnam Ilhwa Chunma | 2009 | 2012 |
Icheon Daekyo | 2009 | 2017 |
The following is a list of all seasons' finals.
Club | Champions | Runners-up | Seasons won | Seasons runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|
Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels | 11
|
4
|
2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 |
Icheon Daekyo | 3
|
3
|
2009, 2011, 2012 | 2014, 2015, 2016 |
Suwon FC | 1
|
2
|
2010 | 2019, 2023 |
Gyeongju KHNP | 0
|
4
|
—
|
2018, 2020, 2021, 2022 |
Seoul WFC | 0
|
1
|
—
|
2013 |
Hwacheon KSPO | 0
|
1
|
—
|
2017 |