The Korean K-League returns on Friday, May 8 as the season kicks off following the coronavirus pandemic delayed its February start date. Currently champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors will aim to repeat the feat this term, however, 11 other sides will try to take the title.
The K-League is one of the biggest football leagues in Asia alongside Japan’s J-League, China’s CSL, and Australia and New Zealand’s A-League. The league’s clubs such as FC Seoul and Samsung Suwon Bluewings have large corporations behind them as owners.
Despite the money that some clubs possess, the financial might doesn’t always lead to championship success. This season’s K-League has the potential to be viewed by far more fans than ever before. The league has worked out a number of broadcast deals with partners around the globe.
When the season kicks off on Friday, games will be held behind closed doors. The good news for clubs around Korea is, as the number of coronavirus cases drop around the peninsula, fans could be allowed to attend matches on a gradual basis.
In terms of teams for fans to watch and possibly wager on, Jeonbuk have been the K-League's top team over the last 10 years. Owned by car company Hyundai, the club have a lot of money behind it. Jeonbuk won seven K-League titles between 2009 and 2019.
Five of Jeonbuk’s titles have come in the last six seasons. The club is managed by Jose Morais, a former assistant to Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid.
Last season’s K-League title race was close as Jeonbuk only won the championship thanks to goal difference. Ulsan Hyundai (owned by Hyundai Heavy Industries not Hyundai Motors like Jeonbuk) finished the season level on points but lost out due to an inferior goal difference.
One team to watch out for in 2020 is Sangju Sangmu. It is a club made up entirely of Korean players serving their compulsory two-year military service. Players do not stay with the military team long but the team can be competitive thanks to culling together players from other clubs.
After this season, Sangju will relocate to another city and due to this, have already agreed to be one of the two teams to be relegated to the K-League 2.
The K-League will see its teams play twice before the top six and bottom six split. It is the same league format used in Scotland and Belgium. Once the league splits into two, the clubs will play each other just one time.
Can Jeonbuk retain their title in a slightly shortened K-League season? It will be another exciting season on the peninsula with more eyes than ever watching the league.