Boom or Bust? K League 2 clubs in their debut season

As K League 2 prepares to welcome three new clubs—bringing the total number to a record-high 17—we look at how other first-time teams have fared since Chungnam Asan joined in 2020.

You’re probably aware by now that Gimhae FC 2008 and Paju Frontier have joined the fully professional K League 2 from K3, while a brand-new club, Yongin FC, will also participate from 2026. History suggests that new clubs tend to struggle.

Debut season:

2020

History of the club:

Officially, Chungnam Asan were established in 2020. They replaced the existing club in the city, Asan Mugunghwa, which folded after the 2019 season. Mugunghwa (named after the national flower of Korea) was comprised of professional footballers serving their mandatory two-year military duty. The club was previously based in Ansan—now home of Ansan Greeners—and competed under the name Ansan Police FC.

Yi Sun-sin Stadium on a cold March afternoon.

How did their debut go?

Not well. By replacing Asan Mugunghwa, the club was forced to build an entirely new squad from scratch. While the stadium remained the same, everything else was new. The organisation was run by the local city hall, a common model in Korea but one that places clubs at a natural disadvantage. Local councils must justify wages and expenditure to residents, unlike clubs such as Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, which benefit from the backing of a wealthy chaebol.

Asan won just five of their 27 matches, finishing bottom of the table on 22 points. They traded places with, ironically, Ansan Greeners for much of the season, before the Greeners went on a late-season tear to finish seventh. Armin Mujakić, Bruno Moreira, and Philip Hellquist were the first foreign players to represent football in Asan.

What happened next?

Chungnam Asan remain in K League 2, finishing the most recent season in ninth, 11 points shy of the playoffs. The club made headlines in autumn after failing to pay players on time. Asan came remarkably close to promotion in 2024—at one point leading Daegu FC 4–1 in the first leg—only for Brazilian legend Cesinha to crush their dreams.

Sensing an opportunity after that heartbreak, Asan made promotion a legitimate target. They invested heavily in a bloated squad, but started poorly and never recovered.

[READ: K League 2 fixtures are out, so what does it all mean?]

What has changed since 2020?

The 10-team K League 2 table from 2020 makes for interesting reading. The teams that finished directly above Asan—FC Anyang (ninth) and Bucheon FC (10th)—are now in K League 1. Daejeon Hana Citizen, who finished fourth, recorded their best-ever season in 2025. Meanwhile, 2020 champions Jeju SK are still competing at the highest level.

How are they prepared for the 2026 season?

Like most clubs in the league, there was significant turnover over the winter. The squad has been trimmed considerably after financial problems in 2025. Lim Kwan-sik was appointed as the club’s new manager in December. Prospects are low; Asan will likely finish in the bottom half.

Debut season:

2022

History of the club:

Gimpo Citizen FC was established in 2013 as a semi-professional K3 club. Their application for K League membership was approved in 2021, despite significant work being required to upgrade their stadium, Solteo, to professional standards. The club rebranded as Gimpo FC and has since made incremental improvements, slowly converting Solteo into one of the few football-specific stadiums in the league.

Solteo Stadium after renovations.

How did their debut go?

A rollercoaster debut season saw Gimpo outperform Asan in the new 11-team K League 2. Ten wins and 11 draws earned them 41 points and an eighth-place finish, six points above bottom-placed Jeonnam Dragons. This came despite finishing with the second-lowest goals scored (39) and the most goals conceded (65), resulting in a grim goal difference of -26.

Son Suk-yong was the top scorer with eight goals. In early June, Gimpo were thrashed 6–1 away at Gyeongnam.

What happened next?

Like Asan, Gimpo came remarkably close to promotion once, in 2023. They held K League 1 survivors Gangwon FC to a scoreless draw in the first leg, and were level at 1–1 in the second leg in Gangneung before Bucheon FC striker Vítor Gabriel broke their hearts with a late winner.

That near miss did not lead to sustained progress. Gimpo have largely settled into mid-table obscurity since. As K League 2 has grown more competitive, their window of opportunity appears to have closed for now.

[READ: Buying Tickets and Football Guide in Korea (Updated for 2026)]

What has changed since 2022?

At the end of the 2022 season, the top four were Gwangju FC (champions), Daejeon, Anyang, and Bucheon. All four will be in the top flight in 2026. Gwangju’s rise, in particular, has been remarkable—from promotion to AFC Champions League Elite quarter-finals and a first-ever Korea Cup final.

How are they prepared for the 2026 season?

There may have been temptation to move on from long-serving manager Ko Jeong-woon, appointed in 2019, but the club has stood by him despite a difficult 2025. Luis Mina remains at the club, though Leonard Pllana has moved to Hwaseong.

Debut season:

2023

History of the club:

The current iteration of Cheonan City has competed in K3 and K League 2 football since 2008. For much of that time, Cheonan were a middling K3 side before a third-place finish in 2017 sparked a run of strong performances. They were K3 champions in 2021, but suffered a major collapse the following season, finishing 10th of 16. That proved to be their final year in K3.

Cheonan City is empty, even for a visit of the Bluewings.

How did their debut go?

Cheonan joined K League 2 alongside Cheongju but endured greater difficulties than their provincial rivals. A last-place finish on goals scored was harsh—Cheonan were above Ansan heading into the final day and needed only a point to finish 12th. Scoring fewer than a goal per game ultimately ruined what could have been a positive start.

By then, however, they had already uncovered one of the best strikers in Korea: Bruno Mota.

What happened next?

The following season was a marked improvement. Cheonan climbed from 13th to ninth and from 25 points to 43. While they never truly threatened the playoff spots, they made life difficult for bigger clubs, including Suwon Bluewings. Bruno Mota was a constant thorn in Suwon’s side, earning moves to Anyang and later Jeonbuk.

They were unable to build on that success. The 2025 season was another difficult year in Baekseok. Cheonan’s highest position all season was 11th—for just one week—and they eventually finished 13th, three points clear of Ansan Greeners. They began the season with 10 losses in their first 11 matches and conceded a staggering 70 goals.

[READ: Introducing Gimhae, Paju, and Yongin: K League's new clubs]

How are they prepared for the 2026 season?

Thirty players have departed since the end of the season. None of the new arrivals are particularly well known, suggesting another difficult campaign unless former Busan IPark manager Park Jin-sub can work miracles. In truth, this move represents a step down for Park as he looks to rebuild his reputation after Busan’s failure to secure promotion in 2023.

Debut season:

2023

History of the club:

Established a year after Cheonan, Cheongju—located 53 kilometres south—have rarely been a strong side. A solid finish in the 2012 Challengers League stands out, but seventh remains their highest league placement in the past decade. Only once during that period have they recorded more than ten wins in a single season.

Cheongju Stadium forms part of a bigger sports complex.

How did their debut go?

Cheongju enjoyed the strongest debut season of any expansion team. With two matches remaining, a playoff place was within reach, but they ultimately fell short. Thirteen draws in 36 matches—more than any other side—proved costly. Manager Choi Yun-kyum won the August Manager of the Month award and was later nominated for the season award.

Their legacy was secured on the final day. Cheongju travelled to Busan with nothing to play for, while Busan needed a win to secure the title. In stoppage time, Jorge Luiz scored a dramatic 96th-minute equaliser, handing the championship to Gimcheon Sangmu. A week later, Busan lost to Suwon FC in the playoffs.

What happened next?

As so often happens, a near miss was followed by a downturn. Cheongju slipped from 52 points in 2023 to 40 the following year, drawing too many matches again (16) and winning just eight. Jorge Luiz was named in the 2023 Best XI, prompting a winter move to Pohang and depriving Cheongju of their main goalscorer.

The decline continued in 2025. Cheongju finished 12th, winning just seven matches and ending the season 21 points worse off than their 2023 peak.

[READ: "No other team could survive" - Why Suwon Bluewings' attendance is rising]

What has changed since 2023?

Seongnam FC, once a domestic powerhouse, returned to K League 2 and finished ninth amid ongoing uncertainty about their future. As of 2026, they remain in the second tier. The 2023 champions, Gimcheon Sangmu, have been excellent since returning to K League 1.

How are they prepared for the 2026 season?

Under Portuguese manager Rui Quinta, Cheongju are one of the league’s more intriguing stories. The appointment of the 65-year-old marks his first venture into Asian football, and how he adapts will be one of the early subplots of the season.

Debut season:

2025

History of the club:

Hwaseong debuted in the 2013 Challengers League, topping their group before losing in the semi-finals. A year later, they won the first of three championships before stepping up to K League 2. Unlike many expansion clubs, Hwaseong enjoyed sustained success, finishing sixth, first, and second in their final three seasons. Unfortunately, that success has not translated into a strong supporter base.

How did their debut go?

Hwaseong surprised many observers thanks to a resolute defence (joint-second fewest goals conceded with Suwon Samsung, on 50), an inspirational manager, and strong home form. They finished 10th in the newly expanded 14-team league. None of the four teams below them came close to matching their relatively low number of defeats (17).

Perhaps due to Cha Du-ri’s larger-than-life persona, Hwaseong’s players and collective performances largely flew under the radar. Only Park Ju-yeong earned a Player of the Round award, and no one came close to Best XI selection.

What has changed since 2025?

The biggest change since Hwaseong’s debut is the influx of new teams. Gimhae FC 2008, Paju Frontier, and Yongin FC will all look to emulate Hwaseong and Cheongju in particular. Incheon United’s stint in K League 2 has ended, while Suwon FC and Daegu have dropped down.

[READ: K League 2 Foreign Transfer Centre (Updates)]

How are they prepared for the 2026 season?

The good news is that Cha Du-ri remains in charge for another season. He will once again work with an almost entirely new squad, which is something of a K League 2 tradition: 24 players in and 23 out over the winter. Leonard Pllana is the headline signing, while several others bring solid K League experience, including Kim Jung-min and Jegal Jae-min.