2026 K League 2
Football league season
Hana Bank
K League 2
Season2026
DatesFebruary – November 2026
← 2025
2027 →

The 2026 K League 2, also known as the Hana Bank K League 2 for sponsorship reasons, is the 14th season of the K League 2, the second-highest division in South Korean football league system.

Overview

The league have expand to 17 teams for this season. Two teams relegated from K League 1, twelve teams remained in this league, two teams promoted from K3 League and one team new club establishment.

K League 2 will be reduce or expand to 15 or TBD teams from next season, due to expansion of K League 1 from 12 to 14 teams, no team will automatically relegated from top tier.

This season, Promotion and Relegation between K League 2 and K3 League have been introduce for 2026 onwards. First and second place are promoted automatically, while third and sixth place are face promotion play-off, winner promotion play-off final will automatically promoted, loser promotion play-off final will face against 12th place of K League 1 (only if Gimcheon Sangmu does not finish last). Last place in K League 2 will face against Champions of K3 League in the inaugural Relegation play-off round.

Teams

Team Changes

As the 2025 K League 2 champions, Incheon United and the play-off winners Bucheon FC 1995 have been promoted to the K League 1.[1][2]

Meanwhile, Suwon FC and Daegu FC have been relegated from the K League 1.[3][4] Daegu FC and Suwon FC return to second tier after ten and five years absence, respectively.

Additionally, Gimhae FC 2008 and Paju Frontier have been accepted into the K League 2 following a decision by the K League Federation, having participated in the K3 League since 2020 and 2021.[5] In August 2025, Yongin FC received approval to join the K League, confirming its intention to participate in the 2026 K League 2.[6] On 16 January 2026, two teams from K3 League and one team newly establishment confirmation participate in K League 2 for 2026 season after approval membership K League.

Incoming Teams
Relegated from K League 1
Accepted from K3 League
New Club
Outgoing Teams
Promoted to K League 1

Locations

The following seventeen teams are participating in the 2026 K League 2.[7]

Team City/Province Abbreviation
Ansan Greeners Ansan Ansan
Busan IPark Busan Busan
Cheonan City Cheonan Cheonan
Chungbuk Cheongju Cheongju Chungbuk Cheongju
Chungnam Asan Asan Chungnam Asan
Daegu FC Daegu Daegu
Gimpo FC Gimpo Gimpo
Gimhae FC 2008 Gimhae Gimhae
Gyeongnam FC Gyeongnam Gyeongnam
Hwaseong FC Hwaseong Hwaseong
Jeonnam Dragons Jeonnam Jeonnam
Paju Frontier Paju Paju
Seongnam FC Seongnam Seongnam
Seoul E-Land Seoul Seoul E
Suwon Samsung Bluewings Suwon Suwon
Suwon FC Suwon Suwon FC
Yongin FC Yongin Yongin
class=notpageimage|
Locations of the 2026 K League 2 teams
Map
14km
8.7miles
Hwaseong Sports Town
Hwaseong Sports Town
Suwon World Cup Stadium
Suwon World Cup Stadium
Mokdong Stadium
Mokdong Stadium
Tancheon Sports Complex
Tancheon Sports Complex
Suwon Sports Complex
Suwon Sports Complex
Yongin Sports Complex
Yongin Sports Complex
Ansan Wa~ Stadium
Ansan Wa~ Stadium
Locations of the 2026 K League 2 teams in the Seoul Capital Area

Stadiums

Ansan Greeners Busan IPark Cheonan City Chungbuk Cheongju Chungnam Asan
Ansan Wa~ Stadium Busan Gudeok Stadium Cheonan Stadium Cheongju Stadium Yi Sun-sin Stadium
Capacity: 35,000 Capacity: 12,349 Capacity: 26,000 Capacity: 16,280 Capacity: 19,283
Daegu FC Gimhae FC 2008 Gimpo FC Gyeongnam FC Hwaseong FC
Daegu iM Bank Park Gimhae Sports Complex Gimpo Solteo Football Stadium Changwon Football Center Hwaseong Stadium
Capacity: 12,415 Capacity: 15,066 Capacity: 5,000 Capacity: 15,074 Capacity: 35,270
Jeonnam Dragons Paju Frontier Seongnam FC Seoul E-Land Suwon FC
Gwangyang Stadium Paju Stadium Tancheon Stadium Mokdong Stadium Suwon Sports Complex
Capacity: 13,496 Capacity: 23,000 Capacity: 16,146 Capacity: 15,511 Capacity: 11,808
Suwon Samsung Bluewings Yongin FC
Suwon World Cup Stadium Yongin Mireu Stadium
Capacity: 44,031 Capacity: 37,155

Personnel and sponsoring

Team Manager Main sponsor Kit manufacturer
Ansan Greeners South Korea Choi Moon-sik Government of Ansan Hummel
Busan IPark South Korea Jo Sung-hwan HDC Hyundai Development Company Puma
Cheonan City South Korea Park Jin-sub Government of Cheonan Sunderland of Scotland
Chungbuk Cheongju Portugal Rui Quinta Sports Tribe
Chungnam Asan South Korea Lim Kwan-sik Haeyu Construction FCMM
Daegu FC South Korea Kim Byung-soo Mizuno
Gimhae FC 2008 South Korea Son Hyun-jun Sports Tribe
Gimpo FC South Korea Ko Jeong-woon Government of Gimpo Sunderland of Scotland
Gyeongnam FC South Korea Bae Sung-jae Nonghyup Bank Hummel
Hwaseong FC South Korea Cha Du-ri Hwaseong Special City Kelme
Jeonnam Dragons South Korea Park Dong-hyuk POSCO Reebok
Paju Frontier Spain Gerard Nus Kelme
Seongnam FC South Korea Jeon Kyung-jun Government of Seongnam Umbro
Seoul E-Land South Korea Kim Do-kyun NC Department Store New Balance
Suwon FC South Korea Park Kun-ha Hummel
Suwon Samsung Bluewings South Korea Lee Jung-hyo Samsung Galaxy S24 Umbro
Yongin FC South Korea Choi Yun-kyum Puma

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment
Ansan Greeners South Korea Hong Seong-yo (Interim) End of Interim 17 November 2025 South Korea Choi Moon-sik 17 November 2025
Cheonan City South Korea Cho Sung-yong (Interim) 1 December 2025 South Korea Park Jin-sub 1 December 2025
Gyeongnam FC South Korea Kim Pil-jong (Interim) 8 December 2025 South Korea Bae Sung-jae 8 December 2025
Jeonnam Dragons South Korea Kim Hyun-seok End of Contract 4 December 2025 South Korea Park Dong-hyuk 16 December 2025
Chungnam Asan South Korea Cho Jin-soo (Interim) End of Interim 17 December 2025 South Korea Lim Kwan-sik 17 December 2025
Suwon Samsung Bluewings South Korea Byun Sung-hwan Resigned 7 December 2025 South Korea Lee Jung-hyo 24 December 2025
Suwon FC South Korea Kim Eun-jung Mutual consent 24 December 2025 South Korea Park Kun-ha 24 December 2025
Chungbuk Cheongju South Korea Kim Gil-sik End of Contract 12 December 2025 Portugal Rui Quinta 30 December 2025
Yongin FC Inaugural season South Korea Choi Yun-kyum 4 January 2026

Foreign players

Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Player 6 Former players
Ansan Greeners Brazil Gabriel Lima Brazil Marlon Serbia Milan Obradović Sweden Tim Hartzell
Busan IPark Brazil Cristian Renato Brazil Gabriel Honório Brazil Xavier
Cheonan City Mali Aboubacar Toungara
Chungbuk Cheongju Bolivia Enzo Monteiro England Finley Welch Georgia (country) Irakli Bugridze Portugal Bandeira
Chungnam Asan Australia Charles Lokolingoy Brazil Denisson Silva Brazil Wiliam Marcílio
Daegu FC Brazil Caio Marcelo Brazil Cesinha Brazil Edgar Brazil Geovani
Gimhae FC 2008 Georgia (country) Beka Mikeltadze
Gimpo FC Australia Connor Chapman Brazil Djalma Colombia Luis Mina Iraq Amar Muhsin
Gyeongnam FC Brazil Danrlei Brazil Felipe Fonseca Portugal Bruno Costa Portugal Rúben Macedo
Hwaseong FC Bosnia and Herzegovina Aleksandar Vojnović Brazil Demethryus Kosovo Leonard Pllana
Jeonnam Dragons Brazil Ronan Brazil Valdívia Collectivity of Saint Martin Keelan Lebon
Paju Frontier Brazil Walterson Colombia Julián Bonilla Curaçao Jafar Arias Paraguay Julio Báez
Seongnam FC Brazil Freitas Brazil Rodrigo Angelotti Brazil Venício Colombia Paul Villero Japan Ryoji Fujimori Japan Shun Kudo
Seoul E-Land Australia John Iredale Brazil Alan Cariús Brazil Euller Brazil Gabriel Santos Spain Osmar
Suwon FC Brazil Luan Dias Brazil Samuel Andrade Brazil Willyan Syria Pablo Sabbag
Suwon Samsung Bluewings Brazil Bruno Silva Brazil Fessin Brazil Reis Russia Stanislav Iljutcenko
Yongin FC Brazil Gabriel Tigrão Guinea-Bissau Jardel Portugal Emanuel Novo

League table

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or qualification
1 Ansan Greeners 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Promotion to K League 1
2 Busan IPark 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Cheonan City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for the promotion play-offs
4 Chungbuk Cheongju 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Chungnam Asan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 Daegu FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Gimhae FC 2008 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 Gimpo FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 Gyeongnam FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 Hwaseong FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 Jeonnam Dragons 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 Paju Frontier 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 Seongnam FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 Seoul E-Land 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
15 Suwon FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17 Yongin FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for relegation play-off round
First match(es) will be played: February 2026. Source: K League Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference; 4) Wins; 5) Head-to-head points

Positions by matchday

  Leaders, promotion to K League 1
  Promotion to K League 1
  Qualification for promotion play-offs semi-final   Qualification for relegation play-off

Updated to match(es) played on TBD. Source: K League

See also

  • 2026 in South Korean football
  • 2026–27 Korea Cup
  • 2026 K League 1
  • 2026 K3 League
  • 2026 K4 League

References

  1. ^ "Bucheon FC 1995 Secures Historic Promotion to K League 1".
  2. ^ "Incheon United Sweeps K League 2 Title, Awards, Promotion".
  3. ^ "Daegu FC has been demoted".
  4. ^ "Suwon FC Relegated After Benching Top Scorer Ssabak". The Chosun Daily. 9 December 2025. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  5. ^ 김해·용인·파주 회원가입 승인…내년 K리그2 17개 팀으로 (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 11 August 2025. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  6. ^ Ham, Seung-tae (18 August 2025). "용인FC, K리그2 가입 승인받아 창단 현실화" [Yongin FC confirms its foundation with approval to join K League 2]. Yonin Simin Shinmun (in Korean). Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  7. ^ "Record" (in Korean). K League. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  • Official K League website
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