K League 1 Returns for 2023!
K League 1 kicked the 2023 season off with an incredible statistic. The opening round of K League 1 attracted a record-breaking number of 101,632 spectators since promotion and relegation in 2013. Maybe it is the result of a change inside the hierarchy of the league after Ulsan Hyundai’s 2022 championship win, or will Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors just regain the title again this year? Earning only 4 points out of 4 games in the opening month and losing their first league game against reigning champion and rival Ulsan Hyundai, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors did not convince K League 1 yet.
During the other K League 1 games of the opening round, fans were able the attend victories of FC Seoul, ACL contender Pohang Steelers, and last year’s K League 2 winner Gwangju FC and runner-up Daejeon Hana Citizen. The game between Jeju United and Suwon FC ended in a goalless draw.
K League 2 Kicks Off with Some New Faces
In the opening round of K League 2, there were two debutants welcomed into the league, Chungbuk Cheongju FC, and Cheonan City. Chungbuk Cheongju FC got off to a great start after a 2-3 victory against Seoul E-Land, while Cheonan City, unfortunately, lost by the same score against Busan IPark. Relegated sides Gimcheon Sangmu and Seongnam FC both started off their K League 2 campaigns successfully with a 1-2 and a 2-1 victory. Furthermore, Bucheon FC 1995 and FC Anyang also brought home victories.
K League's International Goalscorers
The 1st hat-trick of the season is scored by Asani in the 4th round of K League 1 in Gwangju FC’s 5-0 victory against Incheon United. The fresh recruit who made a transfer from Hungarian side Kisvárda FC showed in his first month why he was brought in by Gwangju FC. The Albanian striker was named MVP of the fourth round of K League 1 in 2023 and with four goals out of four games, he is off to a great start of the season.
It was the international players with some superb play who stole the show during the opening week of K League 2, also. Cheonan City vs Busan IPark ended in an exciting 2-3 win for Busan IPark with Bruno Mota scoring both goals for Cheonan City while Bruno Lamas and recent recruit Fessin scored two goals for Busan IPark.
Moya scored the first and only goal in FC Anyang’s victory against Jeonnam Dragons, while both recent recruits Gabriel and Duarte scored goals in both of their team’s losses. Lastly, Seoul E-Land vs Chungbuk Cheongju FC resulted in 2-3 with Paulo and Jorge finding the net for Chungbuk Cheongju FC, and Bruno and Tsubasa bagging two goals himself for Seoul E-Land. It all resulted in eleven foreign goals out of eighteen in K League 2.
Record Attendances in K League Curtain Raiser
As mentioned, K League 1's opening weekend recorded an impressive 101,632 spectators. In the official opening game between Ulsan and Jeonbuk, 28,039 spectators watched the game. It is the largest number of spectators in a K-League game since the start of the COVID pandemic. On the same day, 22,204 people attended the match between Seoul and Incheon which was held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, and 10,348 people visited the stadium during the match between Suwon and Gwangju.
Read More on KLeague.comK League Hall of Fame's First Inductees
K League announces the first inductees to its Hall of Fame, celebrating the league's 40th anniversary. Every two years, K League will induct former players, managers, and special honorary individuals. As this year marks 40 years since K League was founded, one player from each decade is to be inducted.
Read More on KLeague.comK League Call-ups for the International Break
Ending the month of March with friendly matches or qualifying matches for the international teams, several K League stars were called up by their head coaches. South Korea's first matches with Jurgen Klinsmann against Colombia and Uruguay included 13 players from K League teams. While South Korea U22s included 21 K League players in the squad.
Elsewhere, Ulsan Hundai’s striker Martin Ádám was called up for the Hungarian squad, Daejeon Hana Citizen’s defender Anton Kryvotsyuk was part of the Azerbaijanian squad, Gwangju FC’s striker Jasir Asani could continue his current form in Albania and Jeonnam Dragons’ striker Asnawi Mangkualam would’ve been keen to play after his two games suspension in K League 2.