Wikipedia

WK League

(Redirected from 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]

WK League
Founded2009; 15 years ago (2009)
CountrySouth Korea
ConfederationAFC (Asia)
Number of teams8
Level on pyramid1
International cup(s)AFC Women's Club Championship
Current championsIncheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels
(2023)
Most championshipsIncheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels
(11 titles)
Websitekwff.or.kr
Current: 2024 WK League

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]

History edit

In 2006, the Korean Women's Football Federation (KWFF) announced their intention to start a semi-professional women's league the following year with four teams playing 12 to 15 games each across four or five rounds.[5] At the end of 2006 discussions were being held over player eligibility rules, in particular the issue of visas for foreign players.[6][7] In January 2007, the KWFF clarified that the women's league would not be referred to as a professional league, and that official names under consideration included WK League, following the name of the men's K League and adding a 'W' to stand for 'women's'.[7]

In 2008, the KWFF launched an exhibition league as a pilot for the planned year-round league, with four teams participating in three rounds, to be held alongside pre-existing football tournaments.[8] Daekyo Kangaroos won the exhibition league.[9] Following the pilot scheme, it was announced that the WK League would be launched in 2009.[10]

Due to the issue of securing stadiums in major cities, it was deemed too difficult to operate a home-and-away system. Instead, cities were selected to host a number of rounds each.[10] The first edition of the league was contested by six teams over four rounds and 63 matches, including an all-star game and the championship final.[11] Matches were held on Monday nights to avoid clashes with other professional sports.[12]

The first match of the 2009 WK League took place on 20 April 2009 at Wolmyeong Sports Complex in Gunsan between Daekyo Kangaroos and Hyundai Steel, resulting in a 0–0 draw.[13][14] Daekyo finished the regular season in first place and went on to win the championship final against Hyundai Steel to become the inaugural WK League champions.[15][16]

In 2010, the South Korean government announced plans to invest in women's football, including the creation of two new clubs to compete in the WK League.[17] Jeonbuk KSPO and Chungbuk Sportstoto were both formally launched ahead of the 2011 season, bringing the total number of teams in the league to eight.[18][19] However, the following year the league was reduced to seven teams following the dissolution of Chungnam Ilhwa.[20] From 2012 to 2016, the league continued with seven teams, meaning one team would sit out each round.[21]

In 2013, the WK League drew the attention of local and international media following claims by six clubs that Seoul WFC striker Park Eun-sun was in fact a man.[22][23] It was reported that coaches from six teams threatened to boycott the 2014 league unless Park took a gender verfication test.[24] Seoul WFC accused their rivals of violating Park's human rights and demanded an apology.[25] Park also received support from an online petition as well as Democratic Party politician Jun Byung-hun, who called for an investigation by the National Human Rights Commission.[26] The six coaches involved claimed that the controversy was a private joke that had been leaked and blown out of proportion. Lee Sung-gyun of Suwon FMC and Yoo Dong-gwan of Goyang Daekyo resigned in the aftermath of the row.[27] In February 2014, the National Human Rights Commission advised the Korea Football Association (KFA) to punish the coaches, but neither the KFA nor the league itself handed down any punishment and as a result, Park eventually left Seoul to join FC Rossiyanka.[28]

In 2015, the league began a home-and-away system for the first time, allowing teams to establish stronger connections with regional governments and fanbases.[29]

Gyeongju KHNP WFC joined the league in the 2017 season, bringing the total number of teams back to eight.[30]

Competition format edit

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.[31]

In the case that teams are level on points, tie-breakers are applied in the following order:

  1. Goal difference
  2. Head-to-head results
  3. Total goals scored
  4. Total wins
  5. Drawing lots

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.[31]

The regular season was reduced to 21 games in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea.[32][33][34][35] 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.[36][37][38][39] The 2024 edition of the league saw a return to the 28-round regular season.[40][41]

The WK League is the only women's league in the country and as such there is no relegation system in place.

Clubs edit

Current clubs edit

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
  1. ^ As of the 2023 season.

Former clubs edit

Club First season Last season
Chungnam Ilhwa Chunma 2009 2012
Icheon Daekyo 2009 2017

Champions edit

The following is a list of all seasons' finals.

Finals edit

Season Regular season winners Aggregate Semi-final winners 1st leg 2nd leg
2009 Daekyo Kangaroos 2–0 Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels 1–0 1–0
2010 Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels 1–2 Suwon FMC 1–0 0–2
2011 Goyang Daekyo Noonnoppi 5–3 Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels 2–2 3–1
2012 Goyang Daekyo Noonnoppi 3–2 Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels 0–1 3–1
2013 Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels 4–2 Seoul WFC 1–1 3–1
2014 Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels 1–0 Goyang Daekyo Noonnoppi 1–0 0–0
2015 Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels 1–1 (4–3 p) Icheon Daekyo 0–0 1–1 (a.e.t.)
2016 Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels 4–0 Icheon Daekyo 0–0 4–0
2017 Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels 6–0 Hwacheon KSPO 3–0 3–0
2018 Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels 4–4 (3–1 p) Gyeongju KHNP 0–3 4–1 (a.e.t.)
2019 Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels 1–0 Suwon UDC 0–0 1–0
2020 Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels 2–0 Gyeongju KHNP 0–0 2–0
2021 Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels 2–1 Gyeongju KHNP 1–1 1–0
2022 Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels 2–0 Gyeongju KHNP 0–0 2–0
2023 Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels 7–5 Suwon FC 1–3 6–2

Performance by club edit

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

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ 프로팀 하나 없는 종목에 여대생들이 모였다···척박한 환경에서도 '골 때리는 그녀들' (in Korean). Korea Economic Daily. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  2. ^ 세미프로 여자축구, '프로' 명칭 빼고 리그 운영 (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 5 January 2007.
  3. ^ 개요 (in Korean). WK League. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  4. ^ Lee, Jun-ho (25 November 2023). "인천 현대제철, WK리그 통합 11연패... 손화연 해트트릭" [Incheon Hyundai Steel seal 11th consecutive championship... Son Hwa-yeon hat-trick]. The Munhwa Il-bo (in Korean). Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  5. ^ Jeon, Gwang-yeol (27 December 2006). "여자축구 내년 세미프로리그 뜬다" [Semi-professional women's football league coming next year]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  6. ^ Moon, Seung-jin; An, Seung-ho (31 December 2006). "2007년 축구 야구 바뀌는 것들" [What's changing in football and baseball in 2007?]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  7. ^ a b Jeon, Gwang-yeol (5 January 2007). "여자축구 '프로'명칭 안쓴다" [Women's football will not use 'pro' moniker]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  8. ^ Jeon, Gwang-yeol (8 April 2008). "女실업 축구 연중리그 시범운영" [Women's works football year-round league pilot launched]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  9. ^ "28일 한·중·일 여자축구대회 개막" [Korea-China-Japan women's football tournament opens on 28th]. Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). 26 February 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  10. ^ a b Kim, Jong-ryuk (23 May 2008). "6개팀 참가 여자축구리그 내년 출범...연중리그제 변신" [Women's football league to launch next year with 6 teams... change to year-round league format]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  11. ^ "여자축구 실업 WK-리그 출범..올스타전 포함 총 63경기 치르기로" [Women's works football league WK League launched.. 63 matches including all-star game]. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 27 November 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  12. ^ Hwang, Min-guk (8 October 2008). "WK리그, 여자축구 신기원 연다" [WK League, a new era for women's football]. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  13. ^ "한국 여자축구 최초 '대교눈높이 2009 WK-리그' 20일 개막" [Korean women's football's first 'Daekyo Nunnoppi 2009 WK League' opens on 20th]. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  14. ^ "WK리그 개막전 대교-현대제철 0대0 무승부". Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 20 April 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  15. ^ "여자축구 대교, WK리그 정규리그 1위 확정" [Women's football: Daekyo guaranteed 1st place in WK League regular league]. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 29 September 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  16. ^ Kim, Se-hun (16 November 2009). "WK리그 초대 챔피언에 '대교 캥거루스'" [First WK League champions 'Daekyo Kangaroos']. Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  17. ^ Kim, Bo-ram (29 November 2010). "Gov't to invest 18.5 bln won in women's football". Yonhap News. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  18. ^ Jin, Jung-eon (9 March 2011). "국민체육진흥공단 여자 축구단 출범" [Korea Sports Promotion Foundation women's football team launched]. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  19. ^ Ha, Sung-ryong (16 March 2011). "WK리그 제8구단 '소포츠토토여자축구단' 창단" [WK League's eighth team 'Sportstoto women's football team' founded]. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  20. ^ "충남일화 여자축구단 해체...충격" [Shock as Chungnam Ilhwa women's football team disbands]. Sportal Korea (in Korean). 27 October 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  21. ^ Kim, Won-jin (15 November 2015). ""여자축구 인기요? TV중계도 못하는 걸요"" ["Women's football is popular? You can't even watch it on TV"]. Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  22. ^ "South Korean soccer star Park Eun-seon 'humiliated' by gender claims". CNN. 8 November 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  23. ^ Smith, Mikey (9 November 2013). "Korean women's league in row over star striker accused of being a MAN by rivals". Mirror. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  24. ^ "South Korean teams issue boycott threat in gender test row". BBC Sport. 8 November 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  25. ^ Yoo, Jee-ho (7 November 2013). "Women's football team accuses rivals of violating human rights in gender identity controversy". Yonhap News. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  26. ^ Kim, Narae (7 November 2013). "Korean women's soccer in turmoil over gender issue". Reuters. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  27. ^ Yoo, Jee-ho (11 November 2013). "Second rival coach quits over football gender identity row". Yonhap News. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  28. ^ Kwon, Sang-soo; Song, Ji-hoon (21 July 2014). "Amid sex test drama, Park goes to Russia". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  29. ^ Joo, Kyung-don; Kim, Min-gyu (15 March 2015). "Critical season for women's football to kick off". Korea Joongang Daily. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  30. ^ Lee, Seung-hyung (23 March 2017). "한수원 경주 연고 여자축구단 창단" [KHNP establishes women's football team based in Gyeongju]. Yonhap News (in Korean). Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  31. ^ a b DEVELON WK League 2024 규정 [DEVELON WK League 2024 Regulations] (in Korean). Korean Women's Football Federation. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  32. ^ 2020 WK리그, 6월 15일 개막 [2020 WK League to begin on June 15th] (in Korean). Korea Women's Football Federation. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  33. ^ WK리그 4월 26일 개막...현대제철-서울시청 개막전 격돌 [WK League to begin on April 26th...Incheon Hyundai and Seoul WFC to clash in opening game]. Korea Women's Football Federation (in Korean). 20 March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  34. ^ "WK리그, 6월 15일 개막 확정... 21라운드로 축소 운영" [WK League confirmed to start on June 15th... reduced to 21 rounds]. KBS News. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  35. ^ Im, Jae-hoon (17 March 2021). "女축구 WK리그, 올해도 21R축소 운영...4월 26일 현대제철-서울시청 개막전" [Women's football WK League reduced to 21 rounds again this year... season opener between Hyundai Steel and Seoul WFC on April 26th]. Sports W (in Korean). Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  36. ^ 여자축구 WK리그, 3월 19일 개막…현대제철-수원FC 개막전 격돌 [Women's Football WK League season begins March 19th... Incheon Hyundai and Suwon FC to clash in opening game]. Korea Women's Football Federation (in Korean). 5 February 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  37. ^ 2023 WK리그, 3월 24일 개막..따뜻한 봄과 함께 여자축구가 온다! [2023 WK League to open on March 24th.. along with the warm spring, women's football is coming!]. Korea Women's Football Federation (in Korean). 3 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  38. ^ Oh, Chang-won (4 February 2022). "여자축구 WK리그, 3월 19일 개막...현대제철-수원FC 개막전 격돌" [Women's football WK League opens March 19th...Hyundai Steel and Suwon FC to clash in opening game]. Joongboo Daily. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  39. ^ Kim, Yong-il (3 March 2023). "'월드컵의 해' WK리그, 2023 시즌 정규리그 28R-21R 축소 운영" ['World Cup year' 2023 WK League regular season reduced from 28 to 21 rounds]. Sports Seoul (in Korean). Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  40. ^ 女실업축구 WK리그 3월 16일 개막...총 28라운드 7개월 대장정 돌입 [Women's commercial football WK League season to open 16th March... with 28 rounds, the 7-month-long journey begins]. Korea Women's Football Federation (in Korean). 27 February 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  41. ^ Lee, Young-ho (20 February 2024). "2024시즌 WK리그, 3월 16일 킥오프...챔프전은 11월" [2024 WK League kicks off on March 16th... Championship final in November]. Yonhap News (in Korean). Retrieved 16 April 2024.

External links edit

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