2023 K League season likely to begin in late February; second division to be 36-game season: Reports

The 2023 K League season will kick off at the end of February and will have fewer midweek games compared to 2022, while the second tier - now with 13 teams - will be a 36-game campaign, according to reports.

News1 report that the 2023 K League season will begin at the end of February and that there will be fewer midweek matches compared to 2022.

In K League 2 the 13 teams will play each other three times for a 36-game season. 

The two new additions are Chungbuk Cheongju FC and Cheonan FC.

A finalised schedule will be released in early January, according to an unnamed K League official who also reportedly told News1: 

"First of all, like normal, the season will begin at the end of February. It's looking like an early December finish and so it'll be a longer season than this year," adding: "[The league] is also preparing to reduce the number of weekday games held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between the weekend rounds as much as possible. It'll be a lot different to this season."

However, there will be some fixture pile-up in the latter half of the year as the AFC Champions League playoffs and group stage will begin in August and September.

Ulsan Hyundai, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Pohang Steelers, and Incheon United have qualified for the ACL in some shape or form and so could be adding six more games minimum to their schedule for 2023.

The Asian Football Confederation has overhauled the Champions League schedule with competition to span from August to the following February or March for teams in the east.