How do the K League playoffs work?

K League has a somewhat unique playoff system where no team is guaranteed to win promotion. Any team that finishes from second down to fifth will have the opportunity to reach the promised land, but the gauntlet to get there gets tougher the further down the table. 

The K League 2 runners-up, for example, have it the easiest in that they are guaranteed to face a K League 1 team for a place in the top flight. Third down to fifth must run that gauntlet.

So how does it all work?

K League 2 Runners-up

The K League 2 runners-up, the team that finishes second in K League 2, now has a bye through to a promotion-relegation playoff with 11th in K League 1. Before 2022, however, second basically did what third has to do now.

K League 2 3rd Place

The team that finishes third in K League 2 will race the winner of fourth versus fifth at home over one leg and will only need a draw to advance. Should they do so, a two-leg playoff with 10th in K League 1 awaits.

Fourth vs. Fifth

Think of it as K League's Wild Card match that KBO uses. Fifth must beat fourth to advance to the next round while fourth only needs to draw. This match is played at the home stadium of the higher-ranked team.

Promotion-Relegation Playoffs

The first legs are played at the home stadiums of the K League 2 teams and the second legs at the home of the K League 1 teams. Away goals don't count, if the score is level after 90 then it goes to extra time and then, if needed, a penalty shootout. The winner plays in K League 1 in 2025, the loser in K League 2.

History

Fifth Place

Fifth only became a playoff spot in 2022. That year, Gyeongnam beat Bucheon to set up a tie away to Anyang but drew 0-0 and were knocked out. Last year, Bucheon were the away side and drew with Gyeongnam so were eliminated.

Teams promoted: 0/2

Fourth Place Since 2022

Last season, Gyeongnam finished fourth and advanced thanks to the aforementioned draw with Bucheon. This then set up an away clash with Gimpo but a 2-1 loss meant it was the latter who went on to face Gangwon in the promotion-relegation playoffs.

Teams promoted: 0/2

Last Playoff Place Pre-2022

Jeonnam Dragons finished fourth in 2021 and went to Daejeon needing to win to advance. The game ended 0-0 and it was Daejeon who went through, eventually beating Anyang before losing to K League 1 Gangwon FC over two legs.

In 2020 the playoffs were a bit different, due to the Sangmu team moving from Sangju to Gimcheon. This meant two teams were guaranteed to go up - the K League 2 champions and the playoff winners. Daejeon finished fourth that year but drew to Gyeongnam and so were knocked out.

From 2014 to 2021, only Gwangju in 2014 went up as the lowest-ranked team in the playoffs. Seoul E-Land (2015), Busan IPark (2016), Seongnam FC (2017), Gwangju (2018), and Bucheon (2019) all failed to do so.

Teams promoted: 1/8

Second-highest Ranked Playoff Spot

In 2023, Gimpo went on to beat Gyeongnam and advance to the promotion-relegation playoff but were beaten over two legs by Gangwon. The year before, FC Anyang drew at home to Gyeongnam and went on to face Suwon Bluewings but lost to a 120th-minute goal.

From 2014 to 2021, third hosted fourth in what is essentially the current fourth versus fifth contest. Third had home advantage and only needed to draw to go through. The last year of this format saw Daejeon Hana Citizen draw 0-0 with Jeonnam Dragons to go through but ultimately lost to Gangwon FC.

As already mentioned, 2020 was a unique year due to Sangju's relocation and automatic relegation but the third versus fourth format remained the same. Gyeongnam hosted Daejeon and drew 1-1 to make it through to a playoff final against Suwon. Suwon only needed to draw and a late, late An Byong-jun penalty levelled proceedings to mean it was the Castle Park side who won promotion.

Before that, from 2014 to 2019, only two teams went up from this position. Suwon FC in 2015 hosted Seoul E-Land, drew 3-3 at home to set up a tie with Daegu, beat the Sky Blues then overcame Busan IPark to win promotion. The following year, Gangwon beat Busan 1-0, then beat Bucheon, before seeing off Seongnam FC to go up. Gangwon had failed in 2014, so too Asan Mugunghwa in 2017, Daejeon Citizen in 2018, and FC Anyang in 2019.

Teams promoted: 2/10

Highest-ranked Playoff Place

In 2022 and 2023, finishing runner-up meant a direct playoff with 11th in K League 1. Busan finished second last year and won the first leg at home to Suwon FC but lost the second leg and failed to win promotion. The year before, Daejeon beat Gimcheon 6-1 on aggregate to seal top-flight football for the first time in eight years.

Before that, runners-up for what the third-placed team gets now - home advantage in the K League 2 playoff final. In 2021, that was FC Anyang but the Violets lost 3-1 to Daejeon Hana Citizen. In 2020, it was Suwon FC who went on to win promotion against Gyeongnam.

From 2014 to 2019, only Busan IPark won promotion as the highest-ranked team in the playoffs, and it was their third attempt in as many years having failed in 2017 and 2018. Ansan Police failed in 2014, so too Daegu in 2015, and Bucheon in 2016.

Teams promoted: 2/9