The K3 League () is the third-highest division in the South Korean football league system. It was run as an amateur league until 2019, but was relaunched as a semi-professional league after absorbing the Korea National League in 2020. It is currently contested by 14 clubs in the 2026 season.
History The Korean National Semi-Professional Football League was founded in 1964 and lasted until it was replaced by the Korea National League in 2003. The National League (K2 League) was established to introduce the promotion and relegation system between semi-professional clubs and K League clubs. However, National League clubs which formed independent federation were reluctant to invest in their professionalization, and the plan was abandoned due to their refusal.
The Korea Football Association (KFA) continued its plan to complete the South Korean football league system. The KFA made its amateur league K3 League in 2007, and introduced promotion and relegation in the amateur K3 League after dividing it into two divisions K3 League Advanced and K3 League Basic in 2017. Meanwhile, the number of National League clubs gradually decreased, while some of them joined second-tier professional league K League 2 (K League Challenge) or were dissolved due to financial problems. The K3 League Advanced and K3 League Basic were relaunched as semi-professional leagues under the name of K3 League and K4 League respectively, and the National League was merged into the newly-developed K3 League.
At present, there is promotion and relegation between the K3 League and K4 League, but clubs cannot be promoted from K3 to the K League 2. However, the KFA has announced plans to unify the K League system, meaning that from the 2027 season onwards, there will be promotion and relegation between the K3 League and K League 2.
Competition format All participating clubs play home and away season in the K3 League. The championship playoffs were contested by top four clubs of the regular season in 2020 and 2021, but were not held in 2022 onwards. The promotion and relegation system exists between the K3 League and the K4 League, although the number of promoted team(s) and relegated team(s) is different every season.
From 2026, promotion-relegation between K League 2 and K3 League was introduce. The team acquire a K League License will be promoted, while bottom K League 2 team will be relegated. K3 League Champions will face against 17th place of K League 2 in Relegation play-off round.
Clubs Current clubs Team City Stadium Manager First season Current spell Seasons Last title Busan Transportation Corporation Busan Busan Gudeok Stadium Park Sang-in20202020–7— Changwon FC Changwon Changwon Football Center Choi Kyung-don20202020–72022 Chuncheon FC Chuncheon Chuncheon Stadium Jeong Seon-woo20202023–5— Daejeon Korail Daejeon Daejeon Hanbat Sports Complex Kim Seung-hee20202020–7— Dangjin Citizen Dangjin Dangjin Stadium Han Sang-min20222026–2— FC Gangneung Gangneung Gangneung Stadium Park Moon-young20202020–7— Gyeongju KHNP Gyeongju Gyeongju Civic Stadium Uh Yong-kuk20202020–7— Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors N Jeonju Wanju Public Stadium Ahn Dae-hyeon20252025–2— FC Mokpo Mokpo Mokpo International Football Center Kim Jung-Hyuk20202020–6— Pocheon Citizen Pocheon Pocheon Stadium Kim Jae-hyung20222022–5— Siheung City Siheung Jeongwang Sports Park Lee Seung-hee (caretaker)20222022–5 2024 Ulsan Citizen Ulsan Ulsan Stadium Yoon Kyun-sang20212021–6— Yangpyeong FC Yangpyeong Yongmun Sports Park Kim Gyeong-bum20232023–4— Yeoju FC Yeoju Yeoju Stadium Oh Ju-po20242024–3—
Former clubs The following clubs are not in the K3 League as of the 2026 season.
Club Last season ReasonJeonju Citizen2020Relegated to K4 LeaguePyeongtaek Citizen2021Yangju Citizen2023Daegu FC B2024Gimpo FC2021Professionalized and promoted to K LeagueCheonan City2022Cheongju FCHwaseong FC2024Gimhae FC2025Paju CitizenGyeongju Citizen2020Dissolved
Champions Champions by season Season Champions Runners-up2020Gimhae FCGyeongju KHNP2021Gimpo FCCheonan City2022Changwon CityPaju Citizen2023Hwaseong FCFC Mokpo2024Siheung CitizenHwaseong FC2025Gimhae FCSiheung Citizen2026
Performance by club Italic, no more in K3 League. Club Champions Runner-up Seasons won Seasons runner-up Gimhae FC20 2020, 2025— Hwaseong FC11 2023 2024 Gimpo FC10 2021— Changwon City10 2022— Siheung Citizen11 2024 2025 Gyeongju KHNP01— 2020 Cheonan City01— 2021 Paju Citizen01— 2022 FC Mokpo01— 2023
See also K4 League Korea National League K3 League (2007–2019) South Korean football league system
References
External links Official website at KFA