News: 2024 K League 1 season to begin March 1st

The 2024 K League 1 season will kick off on Friday, March 1st with Ulsan HD taking on Pohang Steelers, in what has become the traditional 'champion-vs-champion' clash.

The K League released the fixtures for the forthcoming season on Monday, January 15th for Rounds 1 to 33. 

The new season begins in March for the first time since 2019 after slightly earlier opening rounds in 2021, 2022, and 2023, and the delayed start due to the pandemic in 2020.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, with two new recruits from Daejeon Hana Citizen in Tiago Orobo and Jeon Byung-kwan, meet the Purples at home on Friday, 1st March.

This mimics 2012 and 2013 when Kevin Oris set what was then a record for top-flight goals for Daejeon Citizen (16) then moved to Jeonbuk the following year, and the two teams met on the first day of the new campaign. 

Tiago set a new record of 17 for the Purples in 2023, and has since moved to Jeonbuk; his first match for his new club will be against Daejeon.

Newly-promoted Gimcheon Sangmu are away to Daegu FC on Sunday 3rd.

Meanwhile, Gangwon FC and Suwon FC, who both escaped relegation via the playoffs last season, begin with Jeju at home and Incheon away respectively.

Friday night football stays with each team down to play one match on the last workday of the week. 

The first isn't until July, however, when on the 5th of the month, Incheon United take on Gimcheon Sangm and Suwon FC host Ulsan HD.

2024 K League 1 Round 1 Fixtures

Friday 1st March

Ulsan HD vs. Pohang Steelers, 14:00
Jeonbuk Hyundai vs. Daejeon Hana Citizen, 16:30

Saturday 2nd March

Gwangju FC vs. FC Seoul, 14:00
Incheon United vs. Suwon FC, 16:30
Gangwon FC vs. Jeju United, 16:30

Sunday 3rd March

Daegu FC vs Gimcheon Sangmu, 14:00

All fixtures can be found on KLeague.com.