The Korean team secured relegation as soon as the season began

Gimcheon Sangmu became the first club to receive a relegation ticket in the 2026 K.League 1 season, even though the season has just started. Why?

Korean Football is about to enter a crucial transformation phase as K.League 1, the nation's top league, will increase the number of participating teams from 12 to 14 starting from the 2027 season. This expansion decision brings notable changes to the promotion and relegation system and creates greater opportunities for clubs in K.League 2.

To prepare for the change in club numbers, K.League adjusted the promotion mechanism from the current season. Accordingly, the number of promotion slots from K.League 2 will increase, giving more second-tier clubs the chance to participate in the top level of Korean football.

Specifically, the top two teams in K.League 2 at the end of the season will earn direct promotion to K.League 1. Meanwhile, the third promotion slot will be determined through a playoff between teams ranked from 3rd to 6th. The playoff matches are single-elimination. The 3rd-ranked team faces the 6th-ranked team, and the 4th-ranked team plays against the 5th-ranked team. The two winners advance to the playoff final to compete for the final promotion ticket.

The two direct promotion slots aim to increase the total number of teams in K.League 1 to 14 from the 2027 season. Meanwhile, the third promotion slot will be used to replace Gimcheon Sangmu – the league's special club.

Gimcheon Sangmu is a club affiliated with the Korean military and operates under specific regulations. According to K.League rules, when this club changes its operational location, it must restart from K.League 2. A similar case occurred in 2020 when Sangmu moved from Sangju city to Gimcheon.

This regulation ensures Gimcheon Sangmu will definitely be relegated after the current season, regardless of their final position in the K.League 1 standings. In other words, this military club has already secured the relegation ticket relegation from the moment the season commenced.

However, K.League's promotion/relegation system still has a special scenario that could occur. If Gimcheon Sangmu does not finish at the bottom of the table when the season ends, the 12th-placed team – the lowest position in the standings – will have to participate in a relegation playoff with a representative from K.League 2.

In that case, the 12th-placed K.League 1 team will face the winner of the K.League 2 playoff to compete for a spot in K.League 1 next season. If the K.League 1 team loses, they will be relegated, and K.League 2 will gain an additional fourth promotion slot.

Conversely, if Gimcheon Sangmu finishes the season at the bottom of the table, they will be the only team relegated, and the relegation playoff will not take place.

These changes promise to make the promotion race in K.League 2 more exciting than ever. With more promotion slots available, opportunities for second-tier clubs are broader, creating additional competitive motivation throughout the Korean professional football system.