2021 in South Korean football

Football in South Korea
Season2021
Men's football
K League 1Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
K League 2Gimcheon Sangmu
K3 LeagueGimpo FC
K4 LeaguePocheon Citizen
Korean FA CupJeonnam Dragons
Women's football
WK LeagueIncheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels
← 2020 South Korea 2022 →

This article shows a summary of the 2021 football season in South Korea.

National teams

Main article: South Korea national football team results (2020–present)
Main article: South Korea national under-23 football team results (2020–present)
Main article: South Korea women's national football team results

FIFA World Cup qualification

See also: 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round
See also: 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC third round
5 June AFC second round, Group H South Korea 5–0  Turkmenistan Goyang, South Korea
20:00 UTC+9
Report Stadium: Goyang Stadium
Attendance: 3,932
Referee: Turki Al-Khudhayr (Saudi Arabia)
7 June AFC second round, Group H South Korea Cancelled  North Korea Goyang, South Korea
20:00 UTC+9 Report Stadium: Goyang Stadium
9 June AFC second round, Group H Sri Lanka  0–5 South Korea Goyang, South Korea
20:00 UTC+9 Report
Stadium: Goyang Stadium
Attendance: 4,008
Referee: Shen Yinhao (China)
13 June AFC second round, Group H South Korea 2–1  Lebanon Goyang, South Korea
15:00 UTC+9
Report
Stadium: Goyang Stadium
Attendance: 4,061
Referee: Khamis Al-Marri (Qatar)
AFC second round, Group H table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  South Korea 6 5 1 0 22 1 +21 16 Advance to AFC third round
2  Lebanon 6 3 1 2 11 8 +3 10
3  Turkmenistan 6 3 0 3 8 11 −3 9
4  Sri Lanka 6 0 0 6 2 23 −21 0
5  North Korea 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Withdrawal
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
2 September AFC third round, Group A South Korea 0–0  Iraq Seoul, South Korea
20:00 UTC+9 Report Stadium: Seoul World Cup Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Nawaf Shukralla (Bahrain)
7 September AFC third round, Group A South Korea 1–0  Lebanon Suwon, South Korea
20:00 UTC+9
Report Stadium: Suwon World Cup Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Ryuji Sato (Japan)
7 October AFC third round, Group A South Korea 2–1  Syria Ansan, South Korea
20:00 UTC+9
Report
Stadium: Ansan Wa~ Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (Qatar)
12 October AFC third round, Group A Iran  1–1 South Korea Tehran, Iran
17:00 UTC+3:30
Report
Stadium: Azadi Stadium
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)
11 November AFC third round, Group A South Korea 1–0  United Arab Emirates Goyang, South Korea
20:00 UTC+9
Report Stadium: Goyang Stadium
Attendance: 30,152
Referee: Ma Ning (China PR)
16 November AFC third round, Group A Iraq  0–3 South Korea Doha, Qatar
18:00 UTC+3 Report
Stadium: Thani bin Jassim Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)

Summer Olympics

See also: Football at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament
22 July Group B New Zealand  1–0  South Korea Kashima, Japan
17:00 UTC+9 Wood 70' Report Stadium: Kashima Stadium
Referee: Victor Gomes (South Africa)
25 July Group B Romania  0–4  South Korea Kashima, Japan
20:00 UTC+9 Report
Stadium: Kashima Stadium
Referee: Jesús Valenzuela (Venezuela)
28 July Group B South Korea  6–0  Honduras Yokohama, Japan
17:30 UTC+9
Report Stadium: International Stadium Yokohama
Attendance: 0
Referee: Georgi Kabakov (Bulgaria)
Group B table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  South Korea 3 2 0 1 10 1 +9 6 Advance to knockout stage
2  New Zealand 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 4
3  Romania 3 1 1 1 1 4 −3 4
4  Honduras 3 1 0 2 3 9 −6 3
Source: IOC FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
31 July Quarter-finals South Korea  3–6  Mexico Yokohama, Japan
20:00 UTC+9
Report
Stadium: International Stadium Yokohama
Attendance: 0
Referee: Orel Grinfeld (Israel)

AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification

See also: 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification
25 October Group H South Korea  3–0  Philippines Jalan Besar, Singapore
18:00 UTC+9
Report Stadium: Jalan Besar Stadium
Attendance: 400
Referee: Yudai Yamamoto (Japan)
28 October Group H East Timor  0–6  South Korea Jalan Besar, Singapore
18:00 UTC+9 Report
Stadium: Jalan Besar Stadium
Attendance: 166
Referee: Ngô Duy Lân (Vietnam)
31 October Group H South Korea  5–1  Singapore Jalan Besar, Singapore
21:30 UTC+9
Report Adam 57' Stadium: Jalan Besar Stadium
Attendance: 993
Referee: Hussein Abo Yehia (Lebanon)
Group H table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  South Korea 3 3 0 0 14 1 +13 9 Qualification for AFC U-23 Championship
2  Singapore (H) 3 1 1 1 4 7 −3 4
3  East Timor 3 1 1 1 3 8 −5 4
4  Philippines 3 0 0 3 0 5 −5 0
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts

Friendlies

Senior team

25 March Japan  3–0 South Korea Yokohama, Japan
19:20 UTC+9
Report Stadium: Nissan Stadium
Referee: Rowan Arumughan (India)

Under-23 team

12 June South Korea  3–1  Ghana Seogwipo, South Korea
 Report Obeng 76' Stadium: Jeju World Cup Stadium
Attendance: 2,532
Referee: Chae Sang-hyub (Korea)
15 June South Korea  2–1  Ghana Seogwipo, South Korea
 Report Barnes 51' Stadium: Jeju World Cup Stadium
Attendance: 2,337
Referee: Choi Hyun-jae (Korea)
13 July South Korea  2–2  Argentina Yongin, South Korea
 Report
Stadium: Yongin Mireu Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Kim Woo-sung (South Korea)
16 July South Korea  1–2  France Seoul, South Korea
Kwon Chang-hoon 63' (pen.) Report
Stadium: Seoul World Cup Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Kim Jong-hyeok (South Korea)

Women's team

27 November South Korea  2–1  New Zealand Goyang, South Korea
14:00 KST (UTC+9)
Report
Stadium: Goyang Stadium
30 November South Korea  0–2  New Zealand Goyang, South Korea
19:00 KST (UTC+9) Report
Stadium: Goyang Stadium

Leagues

K League 1

Main article: 2021 K League 1
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[a]
1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (C) 38 22 10 6 71 37 +34 76 Qualification for Champions League group stage
2 Ulsan Hyundai 38 21 11 6 64 41 +23 74 Qualification for Champions League play-off round
3 Daegu FC 38 15 10 13 41 48 −7 55
4 Jeju United 38 13 15 10 52 44 +8 54
5 Suwon FC 38 14 9 15 53 57 −4 51
6 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 38 12 10 16 42 50 −8 46
7 FC Seoul 38 12 11 15 46 46 0 47
8 Incheon United 38 12 11 15 38 45 −7 47
9 Pohang Steelers 38 12 10 16 41 45 −4 46
10 Seongnam FC 38 11 11 16 34 46 −12 44
11 Gangwon FC (O) 38 10 13 15 40 51 −11 43 Qualification for relegation play-offs
12 Gwangju FC (R) 38 10 7 21 42 54 −12 37 Relegation to K League 2
Source: K League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference; 4) Wins; 5) Head-to-head points
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Teams played each other three times (33 matches), before the league was split into two groups, the top six and the bottom six.

K League 2

Main article: 2021 K League 2

Regular season

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or qualification
1 Gimcheon Sangmu (C) 36 20 11 5 60 34 +26 71 Promotion to K League 1
2 FC Anyang 36 17 11 8 51 37 +14 62 Qualification for promotion play-offs semi-final
3 Daejeon Hana Citizen 36 17 7 12 53 48 +5 58 Qualification for promotion play-offs first round
4 Jeonnam Dragons 36 13 13 10 38 33 +5 52 Qualification for Champions League group stage
and promotion play-offs first round[a]
5 Busan IPark 36 12 9 15 46 56 −10 45
6 Gyeongnam FC 36 11 10 15 40 45 −5 43
7 Ansan Greeners 36 11 10 15 37 49 −12 43
8 Chungnam Asan 36 11 8 17 38 41 −3 41
9 Seoul E-Land 36 8 13 15 40 39 +1 37
10 Bucheon FC 1995 36 9 10 17 32 53 −21 37
Source: K League Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference; 4) Wins; 5) Head-to-head points
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. ^ Qualified as Korean FA Cup champions.

Promotion play-offs

First round Semi-final Final
           
2 FC Anyang 1
3 Daejeon Hana Citizen 3
3 Daejeon Hana Citizen 0
4 Jeonnam Dragons 0
Daejeon Hana Citizen 1 1 2
Gangwon FC 0 4 4

K3 League

Main article: 2021 K3 League

Regular season

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Cheonan City 28 16 6 6 50 25 +25 54 Qualification for Championship final
2 Gimpo FC (C, P) 28 14 10 4 35 20 +15 52 Qualification for Championship semi-final
and K League 2
3 Mokpo City 28 14 8 6 34 23 +11 50 Qualification for Championship first round
4 Gyeongju KHNP 28 13 7 8 39 30 +9 46
5 Gimhae FC 28 12 8 8 39 35 +4 44
6 Busan Transportation Corporation 28 11 8 9 32 33 −1 41
7 Ulsan Citizen 28 9 11 8 32 24 +8 38
8 Changwon City 28 9 11 8 28 27 +1 38
9 Daejeon Korail 28 8 12 8 32 30 +2 36
10 Paju Citizen 28 8 11 9 32 36 −4 35
11 Cheongju FC 28 9 7 12 37 39 −2 34
12 Hwaseong FC 28 8 10 10 29 34 −5 34
13 Gangneung City 28 4 8 16 23 42 −19 20
14 Yangju Citizen 28 4 8 16 17 43 −26 20
15 Pyeongtaek Citizen (R) 28 5 7 16 20 38 −18 2 Relegation to K4 League
Source: Soccerway Flashscore
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Wins
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Championship play-offs

First round Semi-final Final
           
2 Gimpo FC 2
3 Mokpo City 0
3 Mokpo City 1
4 Gyeongju KHNP 1
Gimpo FC 1 2 3
1 Cheonan City 0 2 2

K4 League

Main article: 2021 K4 League

Regular season

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Pocheon Citizen (C, P) 30 21 6 3 80 28 +52 69 Promotion to K3 League
2 Siheung Citizen (P) 30 21 4 5 75 32 +43 67
3 Dangjin Citizen (O, P) 30 19 5 6 60 40 +20 62 Qualification for promotion play-off
4 Chungju Citizen 30 17 6 7 60 31 +29 57
5 Jinju Citizen 30 16 8 6 57 28 +29 56
6 Geoje Citizen 30 13 8 9 50 39 +11 47
7 Pyeongchang United 30 14 4 12 43 49 −6 46
8 Gangwon FC B 30 11 7 12 50 44 +6 40
9 FC Namdong 30 11 3 16 39 47 −8 36
10 Chuncheon Citizen 30 10 6 14 40 51 −11 36
11 Seoul Nowon United 30 9 5 16 40 53 −13 32
12 Yeoju FC 30 8 6 16 34 58 −24 30
13 Yangpyeong FC 30 7 8 15 39 52 −13 29
14 Seoul Jungnang 30 6 7 17 33 62 −29 25
15 Jeonju Citizen 30 7 3 20 39 71 −32 24
16 Goyang Citizen 30 5 4 21 30 84 −54 19
Source: Soccerway JoinKFA
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Goals scored; 5) Wins
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted

Promotion play-off

When the match was finished as a draw, its winners were decided on the regular season rankings without extra time and penalty shoot-out.

Dangjin Citizen1–1Chungju Citizen
Dangjin Stadium, Dangjin

WK League

Main article: 2021 WK League

Regular season

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels (C) 21 17 1 3 51 14 +37 52 Qualification for play-offs final
2 Gyeongju KHNP 21 16 3 2 59 17 +42 51 Qualification for play-offs semi-final
3 Suwon UDC 21 9 3 9 35 27 +8 30
4 Seoul WFC 21 9 3 9 28 44 −16 30
5 Hwacheon KSPO 21 7 7 7 28 30 −2 28
6 Boeun Sangmu 21 5 7 9 16 30 −14 22
7 Sejong Sportstoto 21 4 2 15 17 44 −27 14
8 Changnyeong WFC 21 1 6 14 19 47 −28 9
Source: Soccerway
(C) Champions

Championship play-offs

Semi-final Final
1 Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels 1 1 2
2 Gyeongju KHNP 5 Gyeongju KHNP 1 0 1
3 Suwon UDC 4

Domestic cups

Korean FA Cup

Main article: 2021 Korean FA Cup
 
Round of 16
(Fourth round)		Quarter-finals
(Fifth round)		Semi-finals
(Sixth round)		Final
(Seventh round)
 
                      
 
 
 
 
Jeonnam Dragons (p)2 (5)
 
 
 
Busan Transportation Corporation2 (3)
 
Jeonnam Dragons1
 
 
 
Pohang Steelers0
 
Pohang Steelers3
 
 
 
Chungnam Asan1
 
Jeonnam Dragons2
 
 
 
Ulsan Hyundai1
 
Ulsan Hyundai3
 
 
 
Gyeongnam FC0
 
Ulsan Hyundai2
 
 
 
Yangju Citizen0
 
Yangju Citizen (p)0 (10)
 
 
 
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors0 (9)
 
Jeonnam Dragons (a)044
 
 
 
Daegu FC134
 
Daegu FC2
 
 
 
Gimhae City0
 
Daegu FC2
 
 
 
Gimcheon Sangmu1
 
Gimcheon Sangmu (a.e.t.)3
 
 
 
Seongnam FC2
 
Daegu FC1
 
 
 
Gangwon FC0
 
Gangwon FC2
 
 
 
Seoul E-Land0
 
Gangwon FC2
 
 
 
Suwon Samsung Bluewings0
 
Suwon Samsung Bluewings (p)0 (4)
 
 
FC Anyang0 (2)
 

International cups

FIFA Club World Cup

See also: 2020 FIFA Club World Cup
Team Result Round Score Opponent
Ulsan Hyundai Sixth place Quarter-finals 1–2 Mexico UANL
Fifth place match 1–3 Qatar Al-Duhail

AFC Champions League

Main article: South Korean football clubs in the AFC Champions League
Team Result Round Aggregate Score Opponent
Daegu FC Round of 16 Group I Runners-up 1–3 Japan Kawasaki Frontale
2–3
7–0 Philippines United City
4–0
5–0 China Beijing Guoan
3–0
Round of 16 2–4 2–4 Japan Nagoya Grampus
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Quarter-finals Group H Winners 2–1 Thailand Chiangrai United
3–1
2–2 Japan Gamba Osaka
2–1
9–0 Singapore Tampines Rovers
4–0
Round of 16 1–1 (4–2 p) 1–1 (a.e.t.) Thailand BG Pathum United
Quarter-finals 2–3 2–3 (a.e.t.) South Korea Ulsan Hyundai
Pohang Steelers Runners-up Group G Runners-up 2–0 Thailand Ratchaburi Mitr Phol
0–0
0–3 Japan Nagoya Grampus
1–1
4–1 Malaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim
2–0
Round of 16 1–0 1–0 Japan Cerezo Osaka
Quarter-finals 3–0 3–0 Japan Nagoya Grampus
Semi-finals 1–1 (5–4 p) 1–1 (a.e.t.) South Korea Ulsan Hyundai
Final 0–2 0–2 Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal
Ulsan Hyundai Semi-finals Group F Winners 1–0 Vietnam Viettel
3–0
2–0 Thailand BG Pathum United
2–0
3–0 Philippines Kaya–Iloilo
2–1
Round of 16 0–0 (3–2 p) 0–0 (a.e.t.) Japan Kawasaki Frontale
Quarter-finals 3–2 3–2 (a.e.t.) South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Semi-finals 1–1 (4–5 p) 1–1 (a.e.t.) South Korea Pohang Steelers

See also

References