2017 K League Classic


The 2017 K League Classic was the 35th season of the top division of professional football in South Korea since its establishment in 1983 as K League and the fifth season in its current name, the K League Classic.
FC Seoul are the defending champions.

Promotion and relegation

Teams relegated to 2017 K League Challenge
Teams promoted from the 2016 K League Challenge
The following 12 clubs will compete in the K League Classic during the 2017 season.
ClubCity / AreaManagerJoinedOwner / Sponsor
Daegu FC Daegu Son Hyun-jun2002–Owner : Government of Daegu, Citizen Stockholder
Gangwon FC Gangwon Choi Yun-kyum2009–Owner : Government of Gangwon, Citizen Stockholder
Gwangju FC Gwangju Nam Ki-il2010–Owner : Government of Gwangju, Citizen Stockholder
Incheon United Incheon Lee Ki-hyung2004–Owners : Government of Incheon, Citizen Stockholder
Sponsors: Shinhan Bank, Incheon International Airport
Jeju United Jeju Jo Sung-hwan1983–Owner : SK Energy in SK Group
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Jeonbuk Choi Kang-hee1995–Owner : Hyundai Motor Company in Hyundai Motor Group
Jeonnam Dragons Jeonnam Roh Sang-rae1995–Owner : POSCO
Pohang Steelers Pohang, Gyeongbuk Choi Soon-ho1983–Owner : POSCO
Sangju Sangmu Sangju, Gyeongbuk Kim Tae-wan2011–Owner : Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps
FC Seoul Seoul Hwang Sun-hong1984–Owner : GS Group
Suwon Samsung Bluewings Suwon, Gyeonggi Seo Jung-won1996–Owner : Cheil Worldwide in Samsung
Sponsors: Samsung Electronics, Maeil Dairies Industry
Ulsan Hyundai Ulsan Kim Do-hoon1984–Owner : Hyundai Heavy Industries in Hyundai Heavy Industries Group

Stadiums

Daegu FCGangwon FCGwangju FCIncheon UnitedJeju UnitedJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Daegu StadiumAlpensia Ski Jumping StadiumGwangju World Cup StadiumIncheon Football StadiumJeju World Cup StadiumJeonju World Cup Stadium
Capacity: 66,422Capacity: 13,500Capacity: 40,245Capacity: 20,891Capacity: 35,657Capacity: 42,477
Jeonnam DragonsPohang SteelersSangju SangmuFC SeoulSuwon Samsung
Bluewings		Ulsan Hyundai
Gwangyang Football StadiumPohang Steel YardSangju Civic StadiumSeoul World Cup StadiumSuwon World Cup StadiumUlsan Munsu Football Stadium
Capacity: 13,496Capacity: 17,443Capacity: 15,042Capacity: 66,704Capacity: 43,959Capacity: 44,102

Foreign players

Restricting the number of foreign players strictly to four per team, including a slot for a player from AFC countries. A team could use four foreign players on the field each game including a least one player from the AFC confederation.
ClubPlayer 1Player 2Player 3Asian Player
Daegu FC Cesinha Evandro Júnior Negrão
Gangwon FC Diego Maurício Gerson Jonathan Nanizayamo Lương Xuân Trường
Gwangju FC Wanderson Costa Olivier Bonnes Niall McGinn
Incheon United Enzo Maidana Weslley Gordan Bunoza Connor Chapman
Jeju United Magno Cruz Mailson Frédéric Mendy Aleksandar Jovanović
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Edu Ricardo Lopes Éder
Jeonnam Dragons Jair Vedran Jugović Róbert Feczesin Tomislav Mrčela
Pohang Steelers Lulinha Muralha Wanderson
FC Seoul Dejan Damjanović Osmar Barba Ivan Kovačec Khaled Shafiei
Suwon Samsung Bluewings Johnathan Santos Damir Šovšić Matt Jurman
Ulsan Hyundai Richard Windbichler Mislav Oršić Danijel Subotić Takuma Abe

Positions by matchday





Round 1-22

Round 23-38

Split rounds are from round 34 to round 38

Results

Matches 1–22

Teams play each other twice, once at home, once away.

Matches 23–33

Teams play every other team once.

Matches 34–38

After 33 matches, the league splits into two sections of six teams each, with teams playing every other team in their section once. The exact matches are determined upon the league table at the time of the split.

Top six

Bottom six

Promotion-relegation playoffs

The promotion-relegation playoffs were held between the winners of the 2017 K League Challenge playoff and the 11th-placed club of the 2017 K League Classic. The winner on aggregate score after both matches earned entry into the 2018 K League Classic.

First leg

Second leg

''Sangju Sangmu retained its 2018 K League Classic spot, 5:4 on penalties.

Season statistics

Top scorers

Top assists

Attendance

Top 10 Season Attendances

AttendanceRoundDateHomeScoreAwayVenue
34,37615 March 2017FC Seoul1–1Suwon Samsung BluewingsSeoul World Cup Stadium
27,2573521 October 2017FC Seoul2–2Suwon Samsung BluewingsSeoul World Cup Stadium
26,5812612 August 2017Suwon Samsung Bluewings0–1FC SeoulSuwon World Cup Stadium
26,26193 May 2017FC Seoul1–0Jeonnam DragonsSeoul World Cup Stadium
23,9132323 July 2017FC Seoul1–2Jeonbuk Hyundai MotorsSeoul World Cup Stadium
20,93515 March 2017Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors2–1Jeonnam DragonsJeonju Stadium
20,1401418 June 2017Suwon Samsung Bluewings1–2FC SeoulSuwon World Cup Stadium
19,14142 April 2017Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors1–0FC SeoulJeonju Stadium
18,587212 March 2017Pohang Steelers2–0Gwangju FCPohang Steel Yard
18,0872719 August 2017FC Seoul1–1Ulsan HyundaiSeoul World Cup Stadium

Awards

Most Valuable Player of The Round

MVPClub
1 Lee Keun-hoGangwon FC
2 Yang Dong-hyunPohang Steelers
3 Lee Chan-dongJeju United
4 Moon Seon-minIncheon United
5 LulinhaPohang Steelers
6 ÉderJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
7 Frédéric MendyJeju United
8 Joo Min-kyuSangju Sangmu
9 Marcelo ToscanoJeju United
10 JairJeonnam Dragons
11 Kim Seong-junSangju Sangmu
12 Lee Keun-hoGangwon FC
13 JairJeonnam Dragons
14 Yun Il-lokFC Seoul
15 Kim Jin-suJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
16 Choi Jong-hoanIncheon United
17 Lee Dong-gookJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
18 Yang Dong-hyunPohang Steelers
19 Kim Min-wooSuwon Samsung Bluewings

MVPClub
20 JohnathanSuwon Samsung Bluewings
21 Róbert FeczesinJeonnam Dragons
22 JohnathanSuwon Samsung Bluewings
23 JohnathanSuwon Samsung Bluewings
24 Kim Won-ilJeju United
25 Lee Jong-hoUlsan Hyundai
26 Yang Han-beenFC Seoul
27 Lee Chang-minJeju United
28 Lee Seung-giJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
29 Lee Dong-gookJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
30 Yoon Bit-garamJeju United
31 Joo Min-kyuSangju Sangmu
32 Joo Min-kyuSangju Sangmu
33 Júnior NegrãoDaegu FC
34 Wanderson CostaGwangju FC
35 Ricardo LopesJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
36 Lee Jae-sungJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
37 Lee Keun-hoGangwon FC
38 SantosSuwon Samsung Bluewings

Manager of the Month

Season Awards

The 2017 K League Awards was held on 20 November 2017.

K League Most Valuable Player


2017 K League Classic Best XI

PositionPlayerClub
Goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-wooDaegu FC
Defender Kim Jin-suJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Defender Kim Min-jaeJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Defender Oh Ban-sukJeju United
Defender Choi Chul-soonJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Midfielder Yeom Ki-hunSuwon Samsung Bluewings
Midfielder Lee Jae-sungJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Midfielder Lee Chang-minJeju United
Midfielder Lee Seung-giJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Forward JohnathanSuwon Samsung Bluewings
Forward Lee Keun-hoGangwon FC

K League Manager of the Year