Korean Football Round-up 4th Nov.

Respects paid to Kim Nam-chun, K League titles in both divisions sealed, and fixture chaos in K League 2. All that and more in Korean football news round-up by Paul Neat.

Remembering Kim Nam-chun

FC Seoul defender Kim Nam-chun was found dead last Friday. Songpa-gu District police confirmed that his body had been found in the parking garage of an apartment building that morning. Kim was 31 years old.

Fans paid their respects on Saturday, from the thousands who visited Seoul World Cup Stadium and left notes and flowers, to those who held up banners in the stadiums across the country.

#KLUPod: The Weekend Preview 6th November

Jeonbuk crowned K League 1 champions

Needing just a draw at home to Daegu FC on Sunday, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors ran out 2-0 winners and sealed a record eighth and fourth consecutive K League 1 title. Goals from Young Player of the Year nominee Cho Gyu-seong capped off the season at Jeonju World Cup Stadium where, as captain, Lee Dong-gook lifted the K League trophy for the final time. The league's all-time leading goal-scorer is due to retire at the end of the season and bows out on a high.

[READ: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors seal record 8th K League title]

Jose Morais to leave?

Despite winning back-to-back K League titles, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors manager Jose Morais looks set to depart Jeonju Castle. It was reported on Tuesday that Morais had said in a radio interview with Portuguese broadcaster 'Renascenca' that he has "no thoughts about staying" and that he has relayed this information to the club. Morais has been in charge since January 2019 and was brought in to replace Choi Kang-hee who departed for the Chinese Super League. The former assistant to Jose Mourinho had never stayed in a job for longer than a year until now. 

Incheon United seal safety

With a 1-0 win over FC Seoul on Saturday, Incheon avoided relegation. It was the second year in a row that the Durumi had sealed safety on the final day. An Elías Aguilar strike in the first half helped pull off the greatest of great escapes for the Blue Black who looked doomed just a couple of months ago. Elsewhere in Final B, with a 2-1 defeat to Seongnam, Busan IPark are relegated to K League 2.

[READ: Incheon pull of greatest of great escapes]

Jeju United win promotion

Meanwhile, in K League 2, Jeju United on Sunday clinched promotion thanks to a 3-2 win over Seoul E-Land. Nam Ki-il's men are now on a 15-match unbeaten run heading into the final match of the season and make an immediate return to the top flight. 

[READ: Islanders Clinch Automatic Promotion]

Fixture chaos

Following last week's news of a Daejeon Hana Citizen player testing positive for COVID-19, the K League 2 fixtures have been forced into a few changes. Daejeon's remaining two matches, FC Anyang at home and Gyeongnam FC away, will now be played on November 17th and 21st respectively. But, with the Gyeongnam vs Daejeon game likely to have a huge say on which teams reach the playoffs, the final day fixture between Seoul E-Land and Jeonnam Dragons has also been postponed and will now kick off at the same time on the same day. No fewer than four teams are all vying for the two remaining playoff spots.

Return of the prodigal Son

Featuring Son Heung-min and the Europe-based stars for the first time this year, the Korean National Team is heading to Austria to take on Mexico and Qatar in two full international friendlies later this month. Head Coach Paulo Bento is now allowed to select the likes of Son, Hwang Hee-chan and Hwang In-beom but there are also first call-ups for FC Seoul's Yoon Jong-gyu and Gwangju FC's Eom Won-sang. The full squad can be found here.

Cha Du-ri the leader

Former Korean international Cha Du-ri has led the FC Seoul U18s to the K League Junior Group A (northern section) title. Cha was appointed as youth team manager in December 2019 after being part of the Korean National Team setup but in his debut season as a manager has guided his Seoul starlets to an unbeaten, championship-winning season. Osan High School, which serves as the FC Seoul youth team, finished top of Group A undefeated with 26 points having won eight and draw two. Meanwhile, for the South, Gwangju finish as champions and end the season with 21 points from a record of six wins, three draws and one defeat.