 | |
| Organising body | Korea Football Association |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2020 |
| Country | South Korea |
| Number of clubs | 13 |
| Level on pyramid | 4 |
| Promotion to | K3 League |
| Relegation to | K5 League (from 2027) |
| Domestic cup | Korean FA Cup |
| Current champions | Dangjin Citizen (2025) |
| Most championships | Paju Citizen Pocheon Citizen Goyang KH Yeoju FC Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors B Dangjin Citizen (1 title each) |
| Broadcaster(s) | Naver Sports STN Sports Afreeca TV |
| Website | kfa.or.kr (in Korean) |
| Current: 2026 K4 League | |
The K4 League (Korean: K4리그) is the fourth-highest division in the South Korean football league system. It is regarded as the successor to the K3 League Basic, the second division of amateur K3 League founded in 2017.
Since 2021, Korea Football Association has allowed reserve teams of the K League to join the K4 League.
Competition format
[edit]All participating clubs play home and away season in the K4 League. The promotion and relegation system exists between the K3 League and the K4 League, but does not exist between the K4 League and the amateur K5 League, although there are plans to impement it by 2027.[1]
For the 2025 season, the winner of the league will be crowned champions without a playoff and gain automatic promotion. The 2nd-placed team may gain promotion via a two-game playoff series against the 14th-place team in the 2025 K3 League.[2][3]
Also for the 2025 season, and following the example of K League, match day squad lists have increased from 18 to 20 players. At least three players must be Korean nationals, aged 23 or younger, and at least one of the three must be in the starting eleven. The Asian player quota has been removed, and teams may now include 4 foreign players of any nationality.[4]
K4 League teams are allowed to recruit professional players who choose to do social service instead of military service.[5]
Clubs
[edit]Current clubs
[edit]- ^ As of the start of the 2026 season.
Suspended clubs
[edit]| Team | City | Stadium | Manager | First season | Current spell | Seasons | Last title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul Nowon United FC | Seoul | Nowon Madeul Stadium | 2007-2024 | 2027– | 18 | — | |
| Yangju Citizen | Yangju | Yangju Stadium |  Oh Hwi-seong
|
— | — | 0 | — |
Former clubs
[edit]The following clubs are not in the K4 League as of the 2026 season.
| Club | Last season | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Paju Citizen | 2020 | Promoted to K3 League |
| Ulsan Citizen | ||
| Pocheon Citizen | 2021 | |
| Siheung Citizen | ||
| Yangpyeong FC | 2022 | |
| Chuncheon Citizen | ||
| Yeoju FC | 2023 | |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors B | 2024 | |
| Dangjin Citizen | 2025 | |
| Icheon Citizen | 2020 | Dissolved |
| Goyang Citizen | 2021 | |
| FC Namdong | 2022 | |
| Goyang KH | ||
| Busan IPark Futures | 2023 | |
| Gangwon FC B | ||
| Goyang Happiness | ||
| Daejeon Hana Citizen B | 2024 | |
| Jeonju Citizen | ||
| FC Sejong | ||
| Seoul Nowon United | ||
| Yeoncheon FC | 2025 | |
| Daegu FC B |
Champions
[edit]Champions by season
[edit]Performance by club
[edit]| Club | Champions | Runners-up | Seasons won | Seasons runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paju Citizen | 1 | 0 | 2020 | — |
| Pocheon Citizen | 1 | 0 | 2021 | — |
| Goyang KH | 1 | 0 | 2022 | — |
| Yeoju FC | 1 | 0 | 2023 | — |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors B | 1 | 0 | 2024 | — |
| Dangjin Citizen | 1 | 0 | 2025 | — |
| Ulsan Citizen | 0 | 1 | — | 2020 |
| Siheung Citizen | 0 | 1 | — | 2021 |
| Yangpyeong FC | 0 | 1 | — | 2022 |
| Daegu FC B | 0 | 1 | — | 2023 |
| Daejeon Hana Citizen B | 0 | 1 | — | 2024 |
| Namyangju FC | 0 | 1 | — | 2025 |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Gang, Guk-Jin (7 July 2025). "축구종합센터·K리그 승강제 완성 눈앞" [Completion of the Football Center and K-League Promotion and Relegation System is Imminent] (in Korean). Seoul News. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ Lee, Hyeong-ho (20 February 2025). "2025 K4리그 22일 개막…11개 팀 9개월간 경쟁" [2025 K4 League Opens on the 22nd. 11 Teams Compete for 9 Months.]. Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
- ^ Lee, Hyeong-ho (27 February 2025). "K3리그, 2025시즌 3월 1일 개막…15개팀 경쟁" [K3 League, 2025 season opens on March 1st. 15 teams compete.]. Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
- ^ Lee, Hyeong-ho (20 February 2025). "2025 K4리그 22일 개막…11개 팀 9개월간 경쟁" [2025 K4 League Opens on the 22nd. 11 Teams Compete for 9 Months.]. Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
- ^ "정 대회 규정 (Competition Rules)". joinKFA. Korean Football Association. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
External links
[edit]- Official website at KFA (in Korean)
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