The R League (Korean: R리그), also known as the Korean Professional Football Reserve League, is the league for reserve teams of professional football clubs in South Korea.

History

The Korean Reserve League was started in 1990 with reserve teams of five K League clubs.

It was not held for nine years after the inaugural season, but was relaunched in a new format in 2000. The participating teams were split into two or three group leagues, and the highest ranking teams of each league qualified for playoffs to determine the overall champions. It was renamed "R League" in 2009. The Korea Police FC participated in the R League until 2012, although it was not a reserve team of a K League club.

The R League was abolished in 2013 following the foundation of the K League 2, which needed participating players, but was restarted in 2016. It was once again ceased in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the Korea Football Association (KFA) allowed reserve teams to join the football league pyramid through the semi-professional K3 League and K4 League. Plans to resume the R League were scrapped due to a lack of participating teams as a number of teams elected to participate in the K4 League instead.

Champions

Champions by season

Reserve League (1990)

EditionSeasonSingle league
11990POSCO Atoms

Reserve League (2000–2005)

EditionSeasonChampionshipCentral LeagueSouthern League
22000Anyang LG CheetahsAnyang LG CheetahsJeonnam Dragons
32001Seongnam Ilhwa ChunmaSeongnam Ilhwa ChunmaPohang Steelers
42002Anyang LG CheetahsSeongnam Ilhwa ChunmaGwangju Sangmu Bulsajo
52003Not heldSeongnam Ilhwa ChunmaJeonnam Dragons
62004FC SeoulSeongnam Ilhwa ChunmaPohang Steelers
72005Bucheon SKFC SeoulJeonnam Dragons

Reserve League (2006–2008)

EditionSeasonChampionshipGroup AGroup BGroup C
82006Incheon UnitedFC SeoulIncheon UnitedJeonnam Dragons
92007Pohang SteelersSeongnam Ilhwa ChunmaJeju UnitedPohang Steelers
102008Incheon UnitedSeongnam Ilhwa ChunmaGyeongnam FCNot held

R League (2009)

EditionSeasonChampionshipGroup AGroup BGroup C
112009Incheon UnitedIncheon UnitedJeonbuk Hyundai MotorsPohang Steelers

R League (2010–present)

EditionSeasonSingle leagueGroup AGroup B
122010Not heldFC SeoulPohang Steelers
132011Seongnam Ilhwa ChunmaSangju Sangmu Phoenix
142012Korean PoliceBusan IPark
152016FC SeoulDaegu FC
162017Ulsan HyundaiNot held
172018Not heldFC SeoulDaejeon Citizen
182019FC SeoulPohang Steelers
192022Unknown

Performance by club

K League's principle of official statistics is that final club succeeds to predecessor club's history & records.

ClubGroupNational titlesGroup titlesTotal
FC SeoulA3 (2000, 2002, 2004)7 (2000, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2016, 2018, 2019)10
Incheon UnitedA3 (2006, 2008, 2009)2 (2006, 2009)5
Pohang SteelersB2 (1990, 2007)6 (2001, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2019)8
Seongnam Ilhwa ChunmaA1 (2001)7 (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2011)8
Jeju UnitedB1 (2005)1 (2007)2
Ulsan HyundaiB1 (2017)—1
Jeonnam DragonsB—4 (2000, 2003, 2005, 2006)4
Sangju Sangmu PhoenixB—2 (2002, 2011)2
Gyeongnam FCB—1 (2008)1
Jeonbuk Hyundai MotorsB—1 (2009)1
Korean PoliceA—1 (2012)1
Busan IParkB—1 (2012)1
Daegu FCB—1 (2016)1
Daejeon CitizenB—1 (2018)1

Awards

Most Valuable Player

SeasonPlayerClub
1990South Korea Choi Moon-sikPOSCO Atoms
2000South Korea Kim Woo-jaeSeongnam Ilhwa Chunma
2001South Korea Back Young-chulSeongnam Ilhwa Chunma
2002South Korea Park Dong-sukAnyang LG Cheetahs
2003Not awarded
2004South Korea Han Dong-wonFC Seoul
2005South Korea Yoo Hyun-gooBucheon SK
2006South Korea Lee Keun-hoIncheon United
2007South Korea Lee Won-jaePohang Steelers
2008South Korea Kang Su-ilIncheon United
2009South Korea Kim Sun-wooIncheon United

Top goalscorer

SeasonPlayerClubGoalsAppsRatio
1990South Korea Kim Dong-haeLucky-Goldstar Hwangso7??
2000South Korea Wang Jung-hyunAnyang LG Cheetahs881.00
2001South Korea Hwang In-sooSuwon Samsung Bluewings10130.77
2002South Korea Lee Sun-wooSuwon Samsung Bluewings7130.54
2003South Korea Back Young-chulSeongnam Ilhwa Chunma8130.62
2004South Korea Bu Young-taeBusan IPark881.00
2005South Korea Han Dong-wonFC Seoul10200.50
2006South Korea Song Keun-sooGwangju Sangmu11160.69
2007South Korea Yoon Jun-sooJeonnam Dragons8160.50
2008South Korea Yoo Chang-hyunPohang Steelers13230.57
2009South Korea Song Je-heonDaegu FC8130.62
2010Brazil Eraldo Anício GomesJeju United741.75
2011South Korea Jung Sung-minGangwon FC10170.59
2012South Korea Kim Young-hooKorean Police11140.79
2016South Korea Han Hong-gyuAnsan Mugunghwa9100.9
2017South Korea Kim Hee-wonSeoul E-Land11160.69
2018South Korea Kwon Ki-pyoPohang Steelers14190.74
2019South Korea Jeon Hyeon-chulDaegu FC13111.18

Top assist provider

SeasonPlayerClubAssistsAppsRatio
1990South Korea Ahn Ki-chulDaewoo Royals???
2000South Korea Shin Jong-hyokPohang Steelers6120.50
2001South Korea Lee Jung-woonPohang Steelers5130.38
2002South Korea Kim Woo-jaeSeongnam Ilhwa Chunma6180.33
2003South Korea Park Won-jaePohang Steelers4130.31
2004South Korea Jang Dong-hyunSeongnam Ilhwa Chunma5170.29
2005South Korea Yu Hyun-gooJeju United8210.38
2006South Korea Lee Keun-hoIncheon United7200.35
2007South Korea Hwang Jin-sungPohang Steelers551.00
2008South Korea Lee Tae-youngPohang Steelers7210.33
2009South Korea Choi Sung-hyunSuwon Samsung Bluewings570.71
2010South Korea Kim Eun-huJeonbuk Hyundai Motors6100.60
2011South Korea Sin Jin-hoPohang Steelers7170.41
2012South Korea Choi Jin-sooUlsan Hyundai5100.50
2016South Korea Kim Dae-wonDaegu FC5130.38
2017South Korea Kim Soo-beomJeju United590.56
2018South Korea Song Min-kyuPohang Steelers8180.44
2019South Korea Park Tae-junSeongnam FC780.88

See also

External links

  • at Soccer World (in Korean)