K3 League (2007–2019)

{{Short description|South Korean association football league}} {{About|the former amateur football league held from 2007 to 2019|the current semi-professional football league|K3 League}} {{Infobox football league | name = K3 League | image = K3 League.png | pixels = 200 | country = South Korea | organiser = {{nowrap|Korea Football Association}} | confed =  | founded = {{Start date and age|2007}} | first = 2007 | folded = 2019 | divisions = K3 League Advanced<br>K3 League Basic | promotion =  | relegation = | pyramid = South Korean football league system | levels = 3 (2007–2012)<br>4 (2013–2016)<br>4–5 (2017–2019) | domest_cup = Korean FA Cup | league_cup = Challengers Cup | confed_cup = | champions = | most_champs = Pocheon Citizen (6 titles) | tv = | website = }}

The '''K3 League''' ({{Korean|hangul=K3리그}}) was a South Korean amateur football league held annually from 2007 to 2019. It was considered the third-highest division of the South Korean football league system before the K League 2 was launched in 2013, and the fourth-highest division since then. In 2017, it was divided into ''K3 League Advanced'' and fifth-tier league ''K3 League Basic'', and introduced a system of promotion and relegation. In 2020, it was reborn as a semi-professional league after merging with the Korea National League.

==History== The K3 League had an exhibition season held in two stages with ten teams in 2007. The winners of both stages and the best two clubs in the overall standings qualified for the championship playoffs and the 2008 Korean FA Cup. Seoul United became inaugural champions after winning the championship playoffs.

After the league was officially launched in 2008, the number of participating clubs was increased to 18 until the 2010 season, while new clubs registered in the league or some of the existing clubs were dissolved due to financial problems. Seoul Pabal, which engaged in match-fixing scandal during the 2008 season, was also dissolved at that time.

It was renamed the ''Challengers League'' in 2011 and the ''K3 Challengers League'' in 2014, but used original name again since 2015 after being criticised for being confused with a youth league of K League clubs (which had the same name) and the K League Challenge.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seoulutd.com/197558 |script-title=ko:리그 명칭 변경.(K3 챌린저스리그) |publisher=Seoul United |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204122820/http://www.seoulutd.com/197558 |date=3 March 2014 |archive-date=4 February 2015 |access-date=27 November 2020 |language=ko}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kfa.or.kr/news/news_view.asp?BoardNo=11951&Page=1&Query=Gubun%3D11307 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129123254/http://www.kfa.or.kr/news/news_view.asp?BoardNo=11951&Page=1&Query=Gubun%3D11307 |script-title=ko:2015 K3리그 대진추첨, ‘강팀 포진’ A조-‘이변 기대’ B조 |publisher=KFA |date=28 January 2015 |archive-date=29 January 2015 |access-date=27 November 2020 |language=ko}}</ref>

In 2017, it introduced a system of promotion and relegation, and was divided into the first division ''K3 League Advanced'' and the second division the ''K3 League Basic''.

After the 2019 season, amateur level K3 League was revamped as a semi-professional league with the same name. The Korea National League and the K3 League Advanced were absorbed into the third division and were rebranded as the new K3 League.

==Competition format== ===Regular season=== *2007–2008: After the regular season was operated in two stages, the winners of both stages and the best two clubs in the overall standings qualified for the championship playoffs. *2009: All clubs played home and away season, and the championship playoffs were not held. *2010–2012: The participating clubs were divided into two groups, and the winners and runners-up of both groups qualified for the championship playoffs. All clubs had interleague play once after playing home and away season in each group. *2013–2015: The third-placed clubs of both groups also qualified for the championship playoffs.<ref>{{cite news |script-title=ko:전주시민축구단, 14일 리그 홈 개막전 |language=ko |url=http://www.jeonmin.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=128256 |publisher=Jeonmin Ilbo|access-date=22 November 2019 |date=12 March 2015}}</ref> *2016–2019: All clubs played in a single league without groups, and the top five clubs qualified for the championship playoffs.<ref>{{cite web |script-title=ko:한층 업그레이드 된 K3리그, 관전포인트 셋 |publisher=KFA |website=Naver |language=ko |url=https://sports.news.naver.com/news.nhn?oid=490&aid=0000000291 |date=18 March 2016 |access-date=22 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |script-title=ko:[K3리그 개막특집] 전문가 3인에게 한번 물어봤습니다. |publisher=KFA |website=Naver |language=ko |url=https://sports.news.naver.com/news.nhn?oid=490&aid=0000000616 |date=23 February 2017 |access-date=22 November 2019}}</ref>

===Championship playoffs=== *2007–2011: All four clubs entered in the semi-finals. *2012: On the basis of the overall standings, third and fourth-placed club entered the first round, and first-placed club directly advanced to the final (third round). *2013–2015: On the basis of the overall standings, first and second-placed club directly advanced to the final and semi-final respectively, and the other four clubs entered the first round. *2016–2019: The winners of the regular season directly advanced to the final, and the other four clubs entered the first round.

==All-time clubs== <div><li style=display:inline-table;> *Jeonju Citizen (2007–2019) *Seoul Nowon United (2007–2019) *Yangju Citizen (2007–2019) *Cheonan FC (2007–2015) *Asan United (2007–2013) *Goyang Citizen (2008–2019) *Gyeongju Citizen (2008–2019) *Pocheon Citizen (2008–2019) *Pyeongchang FC (2008–2019) *Icheon Citizen (2009–2019) *Cheongju FC (2009–2019) *Seoul FC Martyrs (2009–2015) *Chuncheon FC (2010–2019) *Yeonggwang FC (2010–2016) *Paju Citizen (2012–2019) *Seoul Jungnang (2012–2019) *Gimpo Citizen FC (2013–2019) *Hwaseong FC (2013–2019) </li> <li style=display:inline-table> *Samcheok Shinwoo Electronics (2007–2010) *Yongin Citizen (2007–2010) *Changwon United (2007–2008) *Seoul Pabal (2007–2008) *Daegu Korea Powertrain (2007) *Bucheon FC 1995 (2008–2012) *Namyangju United (2008–2012) *Jeonju Ongoeul (2008–2009) *FC Uijeongbu (2014–2018) *Siheung City (2016–2019) *Yangpyeong FC (2016–2019) *Buyeo FC (2016–2018) *Cheongju City (2016–2018) *Chungju Citizen (2017–2019) *Pyeongtaek Citizen (2017–2019) *Yeoju Citizen (2017–2019) *Busan FC (2017–2018) *Ulsan Citizen (2018–2019) </li></div>

==Champions== ===Champions by season=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" !Season !Champions !Runners-up |- |2007 |align=left|'''Seoul United''' |align=left|Hwasung Shinwoo Electronics |- |2008 |align=left|'''Yangju Citizen''' |align=left|Hwasung Shinwoo Electronics |- |2009 |align=left|'''Pocheon Citizen''' |align=left|Gwangju Gwangsan |- |2010 |align=left|'''Gyeongju Citizen''' |align=left|Hwasung Shinwoo Electronics |- |2011 |align=left|'''Gyeongju Citizen''' |align=left|Yangju Citizen |- |2012 |align=left|'''Pocheon Citizen''' |align=left|Chuncheon FC |- |2013 |align=left|'''Pocheon Citizen''' |align=left|Paju Citizen |- |2014 |align=left|'''Hwaseong FC''' |align=left|Pocheon Citizen |- |2015 |align=left|'''Pocheon Citizen''' |align=left|Gyeongju Citizen |- |2016 |align=left|'''Pocheon Citizen''' |align=left|Cheongju City |- |2017 |align=left|'''Pocheon Citizen''' |align=left|Cheongju City |- |2018 |align=left|'''Gyeongju Citizen''' |align=left|Icheon Citizen |- |2019 |align=left|'''Hwaseong FC''' |align=left|Yangpyeong FC |}

===Performance by club=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- !Club !Champions !Runners-up |- |align=left|Pocheon Citizen |align=left|5 (2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016) |align=left|1 (2014) |- |align=left|Gyeongju Citizen |align=left|3 (2010, 2011, 2017) |align=left|1 (2015) |- |align=left|Hwaseong FC |align=left|2 (2014, 2019) |align=center|— |- |align=left|Yangju Citizen |align=left|1 (2008) |align=left|1 (2011) |- |align=left|Seoul United |align=left|1 (2007) |align=center|— |- |align=left|Hwasung Shinwoo Electronics |align=center|— |align=left|3 (2007, 2008, 2010) |- |align=left|Gwangju Gwangsan |align=center|— |align=left|1 (2009) |- |align=left|Chuncheon FC |align=center|— |align=left|1 (2012) |- |align=left|Paju Citizen |align=center|— |align=left|1 (2013) |- |align=left|Yangpyeong FC |align=center|— |align=left|1 (2019) |- |align=left|Cheongju City |align=center|— |align=left|2 (2016, 2017) |}

===Champions by season (Basic)=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" !Season !Champions !Runners-up |- |2017 |align=left|'''Seoul Jungnang''' |align=left|Siheung Citizen |- |2018 |align=left|'''Siheung Citizen''' |align=left|Paju Citizen |- |2019 |align=left|'''Ulsan Citizen''' |align=left|Jeonju Citizen |}

==References== {{reflist|1}}

==External links== * [http://www.kfa.or.kr/competition/?act=k3 Official website] {{in lang|ko}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:K3 League (2007-2019)}} Category:K3 League (2007–2019) 4 Category:2007 establishments in South Korea Category:Sports leagues established in 2007 Category:Fourth-level domestic association football leagues in Asia