K League adds three new stadiums for the 'hopper

The 2026 K League 2 season will feature three new clubs, continuing the league’s seemingly unstoppable expansion. Gimhae, Paju, and Yongin have been added to the second tier — but where are these cities, what are their stadiums like, and will they be worth visiting?

Welcome to 2026. Welcome to a bigger, better, and more ambitious K League 2. Welcome to the party: Yongin FC, Paju Frontier, and Gimhae FC 2008. As recently as December 2021, the league had just ten teams. From January 1, 2026, there will be seventeen. And that is unlikely to stop with rumours of new or repositioned clubs swirling about.

[READ: News: Gimhae, Yongin, Paju Submit Applications to Join K League]

Geographically, these additions do little to alter the Gyeonggi-heavy feel of the second-tier. K League 2 may have lost Incheon United and Bucheon FC 1995, but it has added Suwon FC, Paju, and Yongin. If there's one thing we can say with complete confidence; K League 2 is a Gyeonggi party. Everyone else needs to apply for membership.

At least Gimhae offers a more distinctive destination, surrounded on three sides by mountains and the bright lights, beaches, and bridges of Busan.

Yongin FC

My photography from Yongin's media seats.

Football has been played in Yongin for many years, but Yongin FC are ostensibly a break from what came before. Yongin City FC was established in 2010, and dissolved in 2016. Their crest resembled religious iconography more than a football club, but they once faced Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the Korea Cup. The new boys have been very busy in the free agent market recently, snapping up a host of experienced K League talent such as Shin Jin-ho, Lee Min-woo, and Choi Young-jun. The marque signing is former Ajax starlet Suk Hyun-jun.

Where is Yongin?

Yongin is a satellite city of Seoul, located on the south-eastern edge of Gyeonggi Province. The much larger city of Suwon lies just a few kilometers to the west. While Yongin is not centrally located within K League 2, supporters can enjoy several away days within a 50-kilometer radius.

What’s the stadium like?

Yongin Mireu Stadium has a capacity of 37,155 and several striking features. “Mireu” is the Korean word for dragon, and the roof is designed to resemble a dragon’s tail. The pointed edges are particularly eye-catching. The north stand is noticeably shorter than the other three sides, and the roof does not fully encircle the stadium. Passengers on the nearby Everland monorail are treated to a clear view inside.

[READ: Enter the Dragon: Yongin's gorgeous stadium]

The interior blends blue and grey seating, but Mireu’s biggest drawback is the running track. As a civic stadium built by the local government, it must accommodate multiple sports. While Mireu sits in the upper tier of Korean civic stadiums, it is far from football-specific. Fans are seated a long way from the pitch, and based on season-ticket information released online, Yongin does not appear to be planning temporary stands, unlike clubs such as Anyang, Bucheon, and Seongnam.

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As you’ll see throughout this article, Yongin faces many of the same issues as most clubs in this division: an over-sized stadium, a running track, and low attendances. Located close to Hwaseong FC — who play in a similarly sized ground — Yongin lacks the decade of success Hwaseong enjoyed before joining the league. Even that success did little to boost crowds, which averaged just 2,764 last season, the third-lowest in the league.

Two home matches against neighbours Suwon Bluewings (9,307 and 8,871) significantly inflated those figures. Remarkably, those fixtures accounted for 35% of Hwaseong’s total home attendance. Yongin will likely benefit from at least one similar payday following Suwon’s failed promotion bid, but beyond that, crowd numbers are expected to be low. While the stadium is visually impressive, it will likely lack atmosphere and a strong match-day experience.

There are also few appealing pre- or post-match options nearby. The closest monorail station is 1.7 kilometers away, and having made that walk several times in recent seasons, I can confirm the surrounding area offers little in the way of food, drink, or entertainment. I’m struggling to find positives here, and like the expansion itself, my outlook on the Yongin experience is bleak.

Paju Frontier

Paju in November.

First of all, I love the name. As more clubs enter the second tier, generic “City” and “FC” branding has become increasingly common. Paju stand apart by breaking that mold, joining a league that already includes distinctive names such as Ansan Greeners, Jeonnam Dragons, and Suwon Bluewings. Sadly, the crest leaves much to be desired. Paju do, however, have a competitive footballing history, entering K League 2 after 14 seasons in the lower divisions.

Where is Paju?

Paju is the second Seoul satellite city featured here. Unlike Yongin, it sits in northern Gyeonggi Province and is the only club in the top two divisions located there. The city is much closer to the maritime border with North Korea than it is to central Seoul, making it one of the most remote destinations in the league.

What’s the stadium like?

Paju Stadium is familiar in design: a concrete bowl, multi-colored seating, a small roof covering only the VIP and media sections, and — of course — a running track. From Paju to Jeju City, Korea has no shortage of stadiums like this. The capacity is a relatively modest 20,000, but there is little risk of that being tested.

[READ: From Triumph to Tragedy: The Two Faces of Yongin Mireu]

I’ve only visited Paju once, on a cold November afternoon toward the end of a K3 season. My wallet slipped from my pocket and fell between the seats. When I called the stadium for help, no one answered. A week later, I returned and found it still nestled there. Why mention this? Because it perfectly illustrates how vast these stadiums are — and how sparsely attended.

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Looking at a map of Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, FC Seoul are the only K League 1 or 2 club located north of the Han River. There is a K4 side in Nowon and a handful of K3 teams scattered across northern Gyeonggi, but Paju offers something genuinely different: a trip off the beaten path, closer to the DMZ than to Sangam.

Their arrival in K League 2 also gives Gimpo FC a local rival for the first time. Until now, trips to Solteo Stadium felt remote and isolated. Hopefully, Gimpo and Paju can spark a new cross-river rivalry. The nearest metro stop to Paju Stadium is Geumchon, and from there a 30-minute walk. Geumchon is only three stops from the terminus of the Gyeongui-Jungang Line. The end. From there, the Imjin River separates Paju from Kaeseong, North Korea.

Gimhae FC

The impressive Gimhae Stadium. Plenty of great photos at Welfare Hello.

The third and final addition to K League 2—for now—is Gimhae FC. Unlike some recently promoted clubs, Gimhae arrive as K3 champions, having pipped Siheung FC by four points. It was their second title since the semi-professional third tier was established in 2020. That pedigree should help them adapt to the rigours of K League 2 more smoothly than Yongin, particularly given their established club structure and dedicated following.

Where is Gimhae?

K League 2 fans from the capital region will no doubt welcome a trip to Gimhae, as it promises a genuine away-day experience. The city is located in the south-east of the country, sandwiched between Changwon (home of Gyeongnam FC) and Busan (of IPark and Transportation fame). Gimhae also has its own airport, and is close to one of the country’s three horse-racing tracks.

What’s the stadium like?

Having never been, I’ll reserve full judgement until my first visit. According to Namuwiki, Gimhae Stadium has a capacity of 15,066 and consists of two identical covered stands running parallel to the pitch, with smaller uncovered stands behind each goal. As a civic stadium, it includes a running track, but based on Google Images alone, it looks like one of the better grounds in the league. I can’t wait to see it in person.

[READ: K League 2 is expanding, but why?]

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From a sporting perspective, Gimhae’s promotion to K League 2 improves the chances of combining a visit with matches in nearby cities. Changwon and Busan both host two football clubs, and each city also has teams in the Korean Baseball Organization. Changwon boasts arguably the most beautiful ballpark in Korea, while Busan offers the most atmospheric.

More intriguingly, Gimhae’s rise opens up a new holiday destination in the gorgeous Gyeongsang province. Current K League clubs are heavily skewed toward the capital region—a reflection of population realities—but greater geographic variety is always welcome. Promotion could also spark new derbies with Gyeongnam and Busan. With the club’s roots stretching back to 2008, there should already be a strong football culture in the city.