2021 K League 2

Hana 1Q
K League 2
Season2021
Dates27 February – 31 October 2021[1]
ChampionsGimcheon Sangmu
(1st title)
PromotedGimcheon Sangmu
Champions LeagueJeonnam Dragons (via Korean FA Cup)
Matches played180
Goals scored435 (2.42 per match)
Best PlayerAn Byong-jun
Top goalscorerAn Byong-jun
(23 goals)
← 2020
2022 →

The 2021 K League 2 was the ninth season of the K League 2, the second-tier South Korean professional football league. The champions and the winners of the promotion play-offs could be promoted to the K League 1.

Teams

Team changes

Sangju Sangmu was renamed Gimcheon Sangmu and moved its city to Gimcheon before the season.

Relegated from K League 1

Promoted to K League 1

Locations

class=notpageimage|
Locations of the 2021 K League 2 teams
Team City/Province Abbreviation
Ansan Greeners Ansan Ansan
FC Anyang Anyang Anyang
Bucheon FC 1995 Bucheon Bucheon
Busan IPark Busan Busan
Chungnam Asan Asan Chungnam Asan
Daejeon Hana Citizen Daejeon Daejeon
Gimcheon Sangmu Gimcheon Gimcheon
Gyeongnam FC Gyeongnam Gyeongnam
Jeonnam Dragons Jeonnam Jeonnam
Seoul E-Land Seoul Seoul E

Stadiums

Ansan Greeners FC Anyang Bucheon FC 1995 Busan IPark Chungnam Asan
Ansan Wa~ Stadium Anyang Stadium Bucheon Stadium Busan Gudeok Stadium Yi Sun-sin Stadium
Capacity: 35,000 Capacity: 17,143 Capacity: 34,456 Capacity: 12,349 Capacity: 17,376
Daejeon Hana Citizen Gimcheon Sangmu Gyeongnam FC Jeonnam Dragons Seoul E-Land
Daejeon World Cup Stadium Gimcheon Stadium Changwon Football Center Gwangyang Stadium Seoul Olympic Stadium
Capacity: 40,535 Capacity: 25,000 Capacity: 15,074 Capacity: 13,496 Capacity: 69,950

Personnel and sponsoring

Team Manager Kit manufacturer Main sponsor
Ansan Greeners South Korea Kim Gil-sik Kappa Ansan Government
FC Anyang South Korea Lee Woo-hyung Joma Anyang Government
Bucheon FC 1995 South Korea Lee Young-min Kappa Bucheon Government
Busan IPark Portugal Ricardo Peres Adidas HDC Group
Chungnam Asan South Korea Park Dong-hyuk Mizuno Asan Government
Daejeon Hana Citizen South Korea Lee Min-sung Astore Hana Financial Group
Gimcheon Sangmu South Korea Kim Tae-wan Kelme Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps
Gimcheon Government
Gyeongnam FC South Korea Seol Ki-hyeon Hummel Gyeongnam Provincial Government
Jeonnam Dragons South Korea Jeon Kyung-jun Puma POSCO
Seoul E-Land South Korea Chung Jung-yong New Balance E-Land

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing Manner Date Incoming Date Table
Busan IPark South Korea Lee Ki-hyung (caretaker) Caretaker 25 November 2020 Portugal Ricardo Peres 25 November 2020[2] Pre-season

Foreign players

Restricting the number of foreign players strictly to five per team, including a slot for a player from AFC and ASEAN countries. A team could use four foreign players on the field each game.

Military-owned team Gimcheon Sangmu is not allowed to sign any foreign players.

North Korean player An Byong-jun was deemed as a native player in K League by South Korean nationality law and passport.

Players in bold are players who join midway through the competition.[3]

Team Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 AFC player ASEAN player Former player(s)
Ansan Greeners Argentina Santiago De Sagastizabal Brazil Anderson Canhoto Brazil Róbson Duarte Japan Go Iwase Indonesia Asnawi Mangkualam
FC Anyang Brazil Nilson Júnior Costa Rica Jonathan Moya Ghana Maxwell Acosty Japan Ryosuke Tamura
Bucheon FC 1995 Brazil Crislan Japan Wataru Murofushi
Busan IPark Croatia Domagoj Drožđek Cyprus Valentinos Sielis Portugal Renato Santos Australia Ryan Edwards
Chungnam Asan Brazil Alex Sandro Brazil Matheus Alves Japan Ryohei Michibuchi
Daejeon Hana Citizen Brazil Bruno Baio Brazil Matheus Pato Japan Masatoshi Ishida Uzbekistan Ikromjon Alibaev Brazil Edinho
Gyeongnam FC Brazil Hernandes Brazil Willyan
Jeonnam Dragons Brazil Alex Martins Brazil Jonathan Balotelli Nigeria Samuel Nnamani Uzbekistan Oleg Zoteyev
Seoul E-Land Argentina Nicolás Benegas Brazil William Barbio Brazil Leandro Ribeiro Japan Yuki Kobayashi

League table

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or qualification
1 Gimcheon Sangmu (C) 36 20 11 5 60 34 +26 71 Promotion to K League 1
2 FC Anyang 36 17 11 8 51 37 +14 62 Qualification for promotion play-offs semi-final
3 Daejeon Hana Citizen 36 17 7 12 53 48 +5 58 Qualification for promotion play-offs first round
4 Jeonnam Dragons 36 13 13 10 38 33 +5 52 Qualification for Champions League group stage
and promotion play-offs first round[a]
5 Busan IPark 36 12 9 15 46 56 −10 45
6 Gyeongnam FC 36 11 10 15 40 45 −5 43
7 Ansan Greeners 36 11 10 15 37 49 −12 43
8 Chungnam Asan 36 11 8 17 38 41 −3 41
9 Seoul E-Land 36 8 13 15 40 39 +1 37
10 Bucheon FC 1995 36 9 10 17 32 53 −21 37
Source: K League Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference; 4) Wins; 5) Head-to-head points
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. ^ Qualified as Korean FA Cup champions.

Positions by matchday

  Leaders, promotion to K League 1
  Qualification for promotion play-offs semi-final
  Qualification for promotion play-offs first round

Team ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536
Gimcheon Sangmu496877868577875432132111111111111111
FC Anyang245986431112332211211344322222222222
Daejeon Hana Citizen248321112233213344455433233333333333
Jeonnam Dragons632564223321121123323222444444444444
Busan IPark10710458786756446555544555667777555555
Gyeongnam FC8109910101099888764677777766556655666666
Ansan Greeners424235445644557866666678888888778777
Chungnam Asan6837436779999999991099887775566887888
Bucheon FC 199586769991010101010101010101010910101010101010109101010109999
Seoul E-Land11111235446568878888899999910999910101010
Source: K League

Results

Matches 1–18

Home \ Away ASG AYG BCN BSI CNAS DJC GCS GNM JND SUE
Ansan Greeners — 3–2 2–2 2–3 1–0 1–0 1–1 1–2 0–1 1–1
FC Anyang 1–2 — 2–0 2–1 2–1 0–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–0
Bucheon FC 1995 0–1 0–0 — 0–2 1–0 1–2 0–0 1–1 1–1 1–1
Busan IPark 1–1 4–5 1–1 — 0–0 4–1 2–1 2–3 0–1 0–3
Chungnam Asan 0–2 2–2 0–1 4–0 — 3–1 1–2 2–1 0–1 0–0
Daejeon Hana Citizen 0–0 1–2 4–1 1–2 1–1 — 1–2 2–1 1–1 2–1
Gimcheon Sangmu 3–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 3–1 1–1 — 1–2 1–1 2–0
Gyeongnam FC 1–1 1–2 3–0 1–2 2–1 1–2 1–2 — 0–2 0–0
Jeonnam Dragons 2–0 0–1 0–2 1–2 0–0 1–2 2–1 1–0 — 3–0
Seoul E-Land 1–0 1–2 4–0 0–1 0–1 0–1 4–0 1–1 1–1 —
Source: K League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matches 19–36

Home \ Away ASG AYG BCN BSI CNAS DJC GCS GNM JND SUE
Ansan Greeners — 1–0 1–2 1–1 0–1 0–2 0–1 3–1 1–1 0–3
FC Anyang 1–1 — 4–1 1–1 1–0 1–2 2–2 0–0 1–1 2–1
Bucheon FC 1995 4–3 0–1 — 0–0 0–0 4–2 0–1 2–3 1–2 0–3
Busan IPark 4–0 1–3 0–1 — 2–1 1–1 0–6 1–0 0–1 1–1
Chungnam Asan 0–1 0–2 1–0 3–2 — 3–4 1–2 2–1 0–0 2–1
Daejeon Hana Citizen 4–1 3–1 1–1 3–1 1–0 — 1–4 1–0 2–1 0–2
Gimcheon Sangmu 1–0 2–4 2–0 2–2 2–0 2–1 — 0–0 3–1 3–1
Gyeongnam FC 0–2 2–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 1–0 2–3 — 0–2 3–3
Jeonnam Dragons 2–3 1–2 1–2 2–0 0–3 0–0 2–2 0–0 — 1–0
Seoul E-Land 0–0 0–1 1–2 1–2 1–3 2–1 0–0 1–1 1–1 —
Source: K League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Promotion play-offs

The first round was contested between the third and fourth-placed teams, and the runners-up directly advanced to the second round. When the first and second round matches were finished as draws, their winners were decided on the regular season rankings without extra time and penalty shoot-outs. The winners of the second round competed with eleven-placed team of the K League 1 in the two-legged final for a K League 1 spot of the next season.

Bracket

First round Semi-final Final
           
2 FC Anyang 1
3 Daejeon Hana Citizen 3
3 Daejeon Hana Citizen 0
4 Jeonnam Dragons 0
Daejeon Hana Citizen 1 1 2
Gangwon FC 0 4 4

First round

Daejeon Hana Citizen0–0Jeonnam Dragons
Report
Attendance: 1,982
Referee: Ahn Jae-hoon

Semi-final

FC Anyang1–3Daejeon Hana Citizen
Jonathan Moya 12' Report Park Jin-sub 32'
Bruno Baio 69', 85'
Attendance: 2,789
Referee: Park Byung-jin

Final

Daejeon Hana Citizen1–0Gangwon FC
Lee Hyeon-sik 51'
Gangwon FC4–1Daejeon Hana Citizen
 Lee Jong-hyeon 17'

Gangwon FC won 4–2 on aggregate and therefore both clubs remain in their respective leagues.

Statistics

Top goalscorers

Rank Player[4] Club Goals
1 North Korea An Byong-jun Busan IPark 23
2 Costa Rica Jonathan Moya FC Anyang 13
South Korea Park Chang-joon Bucheon FC 1995
4 Brazil Willyan Gyeongnam FC 11
Brazil Jonathan Balotelli Jeonnam Dragons
6 Brazil Hernandes Gyeongnam FC 10
7 Japan Masatoshi Ishida Daejeon Hana Citizen 9
South Korea Park Dong-jin Gimcheon Sangmu
South Korea Kim Ryun-do Ansan Greeners
10 South Korea Cho Gue-sung Gimcheon Sangmu 8
South Korea Lee Jong-ho Jeonnam Dragons
South Korea Park Jeong-in Busan IPark
Brazil Róbson Duarte Ansan Greeners
South Korea Kim In-kyun Chungnam Asan

Top assist providers

Rank Player[4] Club Assists
1 South Korea Joo Hyeon-woo FC Anyang 8
2 Brazil Leandro Ribeiro Seoul E-Land 7
3 South Korea Park Tae-jun FC Anyang 6
South Korea Baek Sung-dong Gyeongnam FC
South Korea Lee Sang-min Ansan Greeners
6 South Korea Kim Seung-seob Daejeon Hana Citizen 5
South Korea Lee Hyeon-sik Daejeon Hana Citizen
8 9 players 4

Awards

Weekly awards

Monthly awards

Month Manager of the Month
Manager Club Division
March South Korea Kim Sang-sik Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1
April South Korea Lee Woo-hyung FC Anyang 2
May South Korea Park Kun-ha Suwon Samsung Bluewings 1
June South Korea Kim Tae-wan Gimcheon Sangmu 2
July South Korea Jo Sung-hwan Incheon United 1
August South Korea Hong Myung-bo Ulsan Hyundai 1
September South Korea Lee Byung-keun Daegu FC 1
October South Korea Nam Ki-il Jeju United 1
November South Korea An Ik-soo FC Seoul 1

Annual awards

The 2021 K League Awards was held on 18 November 2021.

Award Winner Club
Most Valuable Player North Korea An Byong-jun Busan IPark
Young Player of the Year South Korea Kim In-kyun Chungnam Asan
Top goalscorer North Korea An Byong-jun Busan IPark
Top assist provider South Korea Joo Hyeon-woo FC Anyang
Manager of the Year South Korea Kim Tae-wan Gimcheon Sangmu
Position Best XI
Goalkeeper South Korea Gu Sung-yun (Gimcheon)
Defenders South Korea Choi Jun
(Busan) 		South Korea Joo Hyeon-woo
(Anyang) 		South Korea Jung Seung-hyun
(Gimcheon) 		South Korea Seo Young-jae
(Daejeon)
Midfielders Japan Masatoshi Ishida
(Daejeon) 		South Korea Park Jin-seop
(Daejeon) 		South Korea Kim Hyeon-uk
(Jeonnam) 		South Korea Kim Kyung-jung
(Anyang)
Forwards Costa Rica Jonathan Moya (Anyang) North Korea An Byong-jun (Busan)

Controversies

On 12 December 2021, Gangwon FC and Daejeon Hana Citizen faced one another in the second leg of the Promotion-relegation play-offs, with the latter team finding himself in advantage after winning the first leg 1–0. Played at Gangneung Stadium, Gangwon's home soil, the match saw the hosts secure a 4–1 comeback victory and maintain their spot in K League 1. However, the game was marred by a series of incidents, occurring between the first and the second half. After Han Kook-young had scored Gangwon's third goal in the 31st minute, the ball boys around the stadium reportedly started to delay giving the ball back to Daejeon players, an event that happened multiple times during the match and was possibly meant to waste time in favour of the hosts: the fans in the away sector reacted furiously, with some of them throwing plastic bottles in direction of one of the ball boys. The game still went ahead, as six minutes of extra time were added at the end of the second half. The K League administration decided to open an official investigation on the controversial events.[5][6]

When asked to talk about the incidents, Gangwon's director Lee Young-pyo originally dismissed them, pointing out that similar instances were already common in European football, but later apologized, saying that he felt "direct responsibility" for the "unsmooth match" and promising that he would work so that Gangwon FC would become "a mature club" in the future.[5] Meanwhile, on December 21, just hours before K League's final disciplinary meeting took place, the Daejeon board released an official response to the matter, stating that there was "clear evidence of the game delays being intentional and organized", as well as noticing that such acts violated the league's Code of Ethics for fair play and respect.[5][7]

In the end, the league's administration decided to keep the final score unchanged: however, Gangwon FC was fined 30 million South Korean Won (US$25,000) for the episodes of time wasting, whereas Daejeon Hana Citizen was fined 2 million South Korean Won (US$1,677) for their fans' behavior towards one of the ball boys.[5][6]

See also

References

  1. ^ [공식발표] K리그2, 2월 27일 개막..경남vs안양으로 스타트 (in Korean). InterFootball. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  2. ^ "OFFICIAL | Busan IPark have appointed ex-Casa Pia manager Ricardo Peres as a new manager of the team". Twitter.com. Korea Football News. 25 November 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  3. ^ "2021 K League 2 Foreign Players" (in Korean). K League. February 2022. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Record". K League. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d Neat, Paul (21 December 2021). "Gangwon FC fined for Playoff Final "ballboy controversy"". K League United. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  6. ^ a b Lee, Seok-moo (21 December 2021). '볼보이 고의 지연 논란' 강원FC, 제재금 3천만원..."구단 책임 커". Naver (in Korean). Edaily. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  7. ^ Kim, Myeong-seok (21 December 2021). "강원 볼보이 논란, 누군가 지시 없이는 불가능" 대전, 철저한 진상조사 요구. Naver (in Korean). Starnews Korea. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021.