K League

His transformation from a casual tourist into a devoted FC Seoul fan reflects a broader shift in Korea's tourism landscape, as more international visitors and foreign residents turn to professional sports to experience local culture beyond conventional tourist attractions.

Korea's professional sports leagues drew record crowds in 2025, with the KBO recording 12,312,519 spectators and the K League attracting 3,486,345.

International fans have also become an increasingly visible presence in the stands.

We are definitely seeing more and more international spectators," Jung Min-seong, an LG Twins spokesperson, told the Korea Joongang Daily.

At the game between the Kiwoom Heroes and the Hanwha Eagles at Gochuk Sky Dome, international participants learned cheering songs and experienced the food and snack culture surrounding Korean baseball.

In October last year, Jeonbuk National University, JBNU, organized a group outing for 2,000 students, including international students, to watch a K-League 1 match between Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Suwon FC at Jeonju World Cup Stadium.

Based in Jeonju, where JBNU is located, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors is a 10-time league champion and recorded the second-highest attendance in the K League last year.

As part of the program, the university provided subsidized tickets, transportation, and custom cheering props.

They play them at home this week.

But the great worry is FC Seoul have now wrapped up the Korean League.

So Seoul sent their essential reserve team, rotated players, lots of teenagers to Australia.

Victory beat them 3-0.

This hasn't been a good season for them.

Like, even look domestically at what they've been doing in K League.

11 wins, 9 draws, 13 losses in 33 matches, a negative 9 goal differential, and they're in the relegation zone of the K1.

But, you know...

I wish it would cool down a bit and might put them off.

Antlers, I mean, in normal circumstances, you would expect them to beat Pohang, who are a difficult opponent but I think they're not doing that well in K League but I mean antlers with the defensive issues you never know and yeah Shanghai Shenhua that's a pretty tough game for ACL too but matched our decent side so yeah I mean each team has a chance has a decent chance to win whether they will get over the line I think yeah I'm sceptical if they all win you might see a draw or two thrown in there

yeah Yeah, fair enough too.

And, well, I wouldn't feel too sorry for the Newcastle Jets players, Johnny.

Thank you so much for having me.

Today, we're starting our sports roundup with a compilation of sounds from FC Seoul's match against Gangwon FC last Saturday, which secured FC Seoul the top spot in the 2026 season of K-League 1, the highest level of the South Korean football league system.

You can hear the fans chanting the coach's name, Kim Ki-dong, there as well.

Here's what the FC Seoul coach had to say after securing the season title.

Hi, Ji-ho.

All right.

So, 2026, K-League 1 champions already.

FC Seoul, right? They captured their first title since 2016 on Saturday with a handful of matches to spare.

We're looking for strikers, Chief.

John Iredale in the K League scored two goals overnight for Guangzhou and makes it seven goals in the last five games.

He was their top goal scorer for the season, 10 goals, despite only joining in July.

Should he be considered for the Socceroos to add to his two caps? He is 27 years

And eventually Korea has won

Hello and welcome to the K League United podcast.

Matthew Binns in the hosting chair for today and I'm joined by the one and only Ryan Walters.

Ryan, welcome back.

He's pretty good, man.

He's pretty good.

A couple of K League titles, a couple of ASEAN titles.

I know.

We really, we really need Genro and Mai to take the line share, the, the attacking link-up and, and actually put the ball into the back of the net, as we love to say on this show.

Uh, it was an interesting one with Seoul, the, the way they've lined up, 'cause they've absolutely romped the Korean League this year.

Um, I think there's one game left in their regular season.

They're something like 15 points up.

Okay.

And, uh, meanwhile, in, uh, football, K League 1, FC Seoul didn't get to celebrate an early championship over the weekend, but it seems only a matter of time at this point.

Let's review the latest action in domestic football, eh?

eh?Sure.