Breaking: Asan Mugunghwa to Compete in K League 2 in 2019

Asan Mugunghwa, who were denied promotion to K League 1 despite lifting the second tier title, will compete in K League 2 in 2019. The following season, the reins will be taken over by Asan City Council to be transformed into a citizen club under the name of Asan FC.

After a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the very future of club, it was announced on Wednesday 12th December that Asan Mugunghwa will be able to compete in K League 2 in 2019.

Asan Mugunghwa were crowned as K League 2 Champions back in November but, due to a recruitment crisis, were prevented from earning promotion to the top flight. Being a team full of conscripted, professional footballers who are undergoing their military service as auxiliary police, the club relies on the National Police Agency to supply the team with its playing staff.  However, the National Police Agency revealed that they were to unilaterally disband all of their sports clubs and cease recruitment leaving the club's very existence in serious jeopardy.

For any team to compete in the K League, they must have a squad of at least 20 players. By the time the 2019 season comes around, Asan would only have players left who are still fulfilling their mandatory military service, including FC Seoul due Ju Sejong and Lee Myeongju.

But, after campaigning from within the club itself and from the city of Asan, the team can now look forward to next season. A club representative has been reported as saying: "We have passed a plan to change the team to a citizen team. We will keep the name of the team for another year until next year and re-establish it as Asan FC in 2020."

Source: Sports Kyunghyang