Wikipedia - K League 2

The K League 2 (Korean: K리그2) is the men's second-highest division of the South Korean football league system. It is contested between fourteen professional clubs and operates on a promotion and relegation system with K League 1.

History

In 2011, the original K League announced a plan to begin a promotion and relegation system between the K League and a proposed second division. The K League then took steps to create the new second division, mainly with the addition of a split-system during the 2012 K-League season in which the bottom clubs are placed in a competition for safety with the last placed club being relegated to the new second division (originally it was going to be two clubs relegated but the withdrawal of Sangju Sangmu meant only one would be relegated).

The second division was going to get the name of K League, and the original K League's name was changed to K League Classic along with the new logo. However, the change caused some degree of confusion and controversy, and on 11 March 2013 the official name was changed to K League Challenge. On 22 January 2018, its name was once again changed to K League 2.

In the 2014 season, two additional teams were relegated from the K League Classic, reducing the number of participating teams to ten. Furthermore, the promotion-relegation playoff system was expanded. The league champion earned automatic promotion, while the third and fourth-placed teams competed in a playoff. The winner of this match faced the second-placed team, and the victor of this fixture advanced to the promotion-relegation playoff against the 11th-placed team from the K League Classic.

In mid-2016, the city of Ansan announced the formation of a new professional football club, Ansan Greeners FC. The club's foundation involved acquiring the squad of Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Dolphins, a team with seven National League titles, and entering the league from the 2017 season. As a result of this development, Ansan Mugunghwa, which had previously represented Ansan, was dissolved at the conclusion of the 2016 season. Meanwhile, the police football team, which had served as the foundation for Ansan Mugunghwa, reached an agreement with the city of Asan to relocate and rebrand as Asan Mugunghwa.

The South Korea K League 2 is the second tier of professional football in South Korea, serving as a competitive platform for emerging talent and established clubs aiming for promotion to the top-flight K League 1. Established in 2013, the league features a dynamic mix of teams competing across a regular season, with the top clubs earning promotion and the lower-ranked teams facing relegation to the K League 3. Known for its passionate fan base and exciting matches, the K League 2 plays a vital role in South Korea's football development, showcasing rising stars and fostering competitive spirit within the country's football ecosystem.