2015 K League Classic

The 2015 K League Classic was the 33rd season of the top division of professional football in South Korea since its establishment in 1983 as K-League and the third season in its current name, the K League Classic.

Hyundai Oilbank
K League Classic 2015
Season2015
ChampionsJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
(4th title)
RelegatedBusan IPark
Daejeon Citizen
Champions LeagueJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
FC Seoul
Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Pohang Steelers
Matches played228
Goals scored546 (2.39 per match)
Top goalscorerKim Shin-wook
(18 goals)
Biggest home winJeju 5–0 Daejeon
(21 March 2015)
Biggest away winDaejeon 1–4 Seongnam
(4 April 2015)
Highest scoring
Longest winning runPohang (6 games)
Longest unbeaten runPohang (15 games)
Longest winless runDaejeon (17 games)
Longest losing runDaejeon (8 games)
Highest attendance39,328 Seoul vs Suwon (R18)
Lowest attendance628 Jeonnam vs Gwangju (R36)
Average attendance7,720
← 2014
2016 →

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors were the defending champions, having won their third title in 2014.

Promotion and relegation

Teams relegated to 2015 K League Challenge

Teams promoted from the 2014 K League Challenge

Participating clubs
Location of teams in 2015 K League Classic

The following 12 clubs will compete in the K League Classic during the 2015 season.

Club City / Area Manager Joined Owner(s) / Sponsor(s)
0 Busan IPark 0 Busan Yoon Sung-hyo 1983 - Owner : Hyundai Development Company
0 Daejeon Citizen 0 Daejeon Cho Jin-ho 1997 - Owners : Government of Daejeon, Citizen Stockholder
0 Gwangju FC 0 Gwangju Nam Ki-il 2010 - Owner : Government of Gwangju, Citizen Stockholder
0 Incheon United 0 Incheon Kim Do-hoon 2004 - Owners : Government of Incheon, Citizen Stockholder
Sponsors : Shinhan Bank, Incheon International Airport
0 Jeju United 0 Jeju Jo Sung-hwan 1983 - Owner : SK Energy in SK Group
0 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 0 Jeonbuk Choi Kang-hee 1995 - Owner : Hyundai Motor Company in Hyundai Motor Group
0 Jeonnam Dragons 0 Jeonnam Roh Sang-rae 1995 - Owner : POSCO
0 Pohang Steelers 0 Pohang, Gyeongbuk Hwang Sun-hong 1983 - Owner : POSCO
0 Seongnam FC 0 Seongnam, Gyeonggi Kim Hak-bum 1989 - Owner : Government of Seongnam, Citizen Stockholder
0 FC Seoul 0 Seoul Choi Yong-soo 1984 - Owner : GS Group
0 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 0 Suwon, Gyeonggi Seo Jung-won 1996 - Owner : Cheil Worldwide in Samsung Group
Sponsors : Samsung Electronics
0 Ulsan Hyundai 0 Ulsan Yoon Jung-hwan 1984 - Owner : Hyundai Heavy Industries in Hyundai Heavy Industries Group

Stadiums
  • Primary venues used in the K League Classic:
Busan IPark Daejeon Citizen Gwangju FC Incheon United Jeju United Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Busan Asiad Stadium Daejeon World Cup Stadium Gwangju World Cup Stadium Incheon Football Stadium Jeju World Cup Stadium Jeonju World Cup Stadium
Capacity: 53,864 Capacity: 41,295 Capacity: 44,118 Capacity: 20,891 Capacity: 35,657 Capacity: 42,477
Jeonnam Dragons Pohang Steelers Seongnam FC FC Seoul Suwon Samsung Bluewings Ulsan Hyundai
Gwangyang Football Stadium Pohang Steel Yard Tancheon Stadium Seoul World Cup Stadium Suwon World Cup Stadium Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
Capacity: 20,009 Capacity: 25,000 Capacity: 16,250 Capacity: 66,704 Capacity: 43,959 Capacity: 44,474

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing Manner Table Date Incoming Table Date
Jeju United Park Kyung-hoon Resigned Pre-season Jo Sung-hwan Pre-season
Ulsan Hyundai Cho Min-kook Resigned Pre-season Yoon Jung-hwan Pre-season
Jeonnam Dragons Ha Seok-ju Resigned Pre-season Roh Sang-rae Pre-season
Incheon United Kim Bong-gil Sacked Pre-season Kim Do-hoon Pre-season

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 country.

As of 31 July 2015
Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Asian Player
Busan IPark Bill Elias Wesley
Daejeon Citizen Niltinho Rafinha Wanderson Álvaro Silva
Gwangju FC Cassiano Daniel Fábio Neves
Incheon United Kevin Oris Matej Jonjić Tomoki Wada
Jeju United Ciro Fernando Karanga Ricardo Lopes Aleksandar Jovanović
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Leonardo Luiz Henrique Urko Vera Alex Wilkinson
Jeonnam Dragons Leandrinho Mislav Oršić Stevica Ristić
Pohang Steelers Tiago Lazar Veselinović
Seongnam FC Lucas Pajeu Javier Reina
FC Seoul Adriano Mauricio Molina Osmar Barba Yojiro Takahagi
Suwon Samsung Bluewings Santos Iliyan Mitsanski Kaio
Ulsan Hyundai Everton Santos Ivan Kovačec Server Djeparov Chikashi Masuda

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (C) 38 22 7 9 57 39 +18 73 Qualification for the Champions League group stage
2 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 38 19 10 9 60 43 +17 67
3 Pohang Steelers 38 18 12 8 49 32 +17 66 Qualification for the Champions League play-off round
4 FC Seoul[lower-alpha 1] 38 17 11 10 52 44 +8 62 Qualification for the Champions League group stage
5 Seongnam FC 38 15 15 8 41 33 +8 60
6 Jeju United 38 14 8 16 55 56 −1 50
7 Ulsan Hyundai 38 13 14 11 54 45 +9 53
8 Incheon United 38 13 12 13 35 32 +3 51
9 Jeonnam Dragons 38 12 13 13 46 51 −5 49
10 Gwangju FC 38 10 12 16 35 44 −9 42
11 Busan IPark (R) 38 5 11 22 30 55 −25 26 Qualification to relegation play-offs
12 Daejeon Citizen (R) 38 4 7 27 32 72 −40 19 Relegation to 2016 K League Challenge
Updated to match(es) played on 29 November 2015. Source: K League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Wins
(C) Champion; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. FC Seoul qualified for the 2016 AFC Champions League group stage as 2015 Korean FA Cup winners.

Positions by matchday

  Leader & 2016 AFC Champions League
  Qualification to 2016 AFC Champions League
  Relegation playoffs
  Relegation to the 2016 K League Challenge

Round 1–22
Team ╲ Round12345678910111213141516171819202122
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors1232111111111111111111
Suwon Samsung Bluewings9543342242222222222222
Jeonnam Dragons7785596566996876445343
Pohang Steelers3656854455443444333564
Seongnam FC111010976778756579101097675
FC Seoul111111101089910107810633554436
Incheon United59911111010109857810109986757
Jeju United7767435623334367768888
Gwangju FC532467887910109555679999
Ulsan Hyundai111122333485798881010101010
Busan IPark347891111111111111111111111111111111111
Daejeon Citizen9121212121212121212121212121212121212121212
Source: kleague.com

Round 23–38

Split rounds are from round 34 to round 38

Team ╲ Round23242526272829303132333435363738
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors1111111111111111
Suwon Samsung Bluewings2222222222223322
Pohang Steelers5533555333332233
FC Seoul4465444555544444
Seongnam FC6644333444455555
Jeju United9999888887666666
Ulsan Hyundai101010101010101099998887
Incheon United7877666666777778
Jeonnam Dragons3356777778889999
Gwangju FC878899991010101010101010
Busan IPark11111111111111111111111111111111
Daejeon Citizen12121212121212121212121212121212
Source: kleague.com

Results

Matches 1–22

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

Home \ Away BIP DJC GWJ ICU JJU JHM JND PHS SEN SEO SSB USH
Busan IPark 1–0 2–3 1–2 1–3 1–2 0–2 1–2 0–1 0–1 1–1 1–0
Daejeon Citizen 0–0 0–2 1–2 2–2 3–4 2–3 0–2 1–4 1–2 1–2 1–1
Gwangju FC 0–1 1–2 1–0 1–0 2–3 3–2 0–0 0–0 1–1 0–2 1–2
Incheon United 3–1 2–0 2–2 1–0 0–0 1–2 1–1 0–1 1–1 1–1 1–1
Jeju United 0–0 5–0 2–1 0–0 0–3 3–2 1–0 4–3 2–4 3–4 2–1
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2–1 2–1 1–1 1–0 1–0 2–2 1–0 2–0 1–2 2–0 2–1
Jeonnam Dragons 3–1 0–0 1–2 1–0 1–1 2–1 0–0 2–1 2–0 1–1 2–1
Pohang Steelers 1–2 2–1 2–1 0–2 3–4 0–0 4–1 2–2 2–1 0–1 2–4
Seongnam FC 1–0 3–1 1–1 0–0 1–1 2–1 0–0 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–0
FC Seoul 0–0 1–0 1–1 1–0 1–0 1–2 3–0 1–3 1–1 0–0 0–0
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2–1 1–2 0–1 2–1 1–0 2–2 1–0 0–1 1–1 5–1 3–1
Ulsan Hyundai 1–1 4–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–2 0–0 2–2 0–1 2–0 1–1
Updated to match(es) played on 9 September 2015. Source: K League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matches 23–33
Home \ Away BIP DJC GWJ ICU JJU JHM JND PHS SEN SEO SSB USH
Busan IPark 2–1 0–2 1–1 2–4 2–2 2–2
Daejeon Citizen 0–0 2–4 0–1 0–2 0–0
Gwangju FC 0–0 0–1 1–2 0–0 2–4
Incheon United 2–1 2–1 1–0 1–0 0–2 1–2
Jeju United 3–2 0–1 2–1 2–4 2–2
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2–0 3–1 0–1 2–1 3–0 2–1
Jeonnam Dragons 1–1 0–2 3–1 0–0 1–1 0–2
Pohang Steelers 2–0 0–0 3–0 2–1 0–0
Seongnam FC 1–0 2–1 1–0 1–1 0–1
FC Seoul 2–0 3–1 2–0 3–2 0–0 0–1
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2–1 1–0 0–1 0–3 3–1
Ulsan Hyundai 0–1 2–0 3–2 1–1 0–0 1–2
Updated to match(es) played on 4 October 2015. Source: K League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

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 (either at home or away). The exact matches are determined upon the league table at the time of the split.

Promotion-relegation playoffs

The promotion-relegation playoffs were held between the winners of the 2015 K League Challenge Playoff and the 11th-placed club of the 2015 K League Classic. The winner on aggregate score after both matches earned entry into the 2016 K League Classic.

First leg
Suwon FC1–0Busan IPark
Jung Min-woo  85' Report
Attendance: 2,347
Referee: Lee Dong-jun

Second leg
Busan IPark0–2Suwon FC
Report Lim Seong-taek  80'
Japa  90+4'
Attendance: 6,135
Referee: Woo Sang-il

Suwon FC secure promotion to the 2016 K League Classic season, 3:0 on aggregate.

Statistics

Attendance
Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 330,856 31,192 4,928 17,413 +32.3%†
2 FC Seoul 326,269 39,328 4,267 17,172 +0.9%†
3 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 250,702 29,046 6,538 13,195 −32.7%†
4 Pohang Steelers 175,520 19,227 3,354 9,238 −5.7%†
5 Jeju United 117,754 20,013 1,011 6,542 −2.5%†
6 Ulsan Hyundai 119,309 18,031 1,524 6,279 −10.7%†
7 Seongnam FC 107,619 12,187 1,593 5,664 +50.8%†
8 Incheon United 97,250 10,704 1,623 4,863 +6.4%†
9 Jeonnam Dragons 82,407 12,608 628 4,337 +28.9%†
10 Busan IPark 63,440 9,123 1,187 3,339 +2.6%†
11 Daejeon Citizen 47,370 11,857 763 2,493 −22.0%†
12 Gwangju FC 41,567 3,117 1,062 2,188 +62.8%†
League total 1,760,063 39,328 628 7,720 −2.7%†

Updated to games played on 29 November 2015
Source: K League Classic
Notes:
Attendants who entered with free ticket are not counted.
† Teams that played previous season in K League Challenge.

Top 10 Season Attendances
AttendanceRoundDateHomeScoreAwayVenueWeekdayTime of Day
39,3281827 June 2015FC Seoul0 – 0Suwon Samsung BluewingsSeoul World Cup StadiumSaturdayAfternoon
32,516214 March 2015FC Seoul1 – 2Jeonbuk Hyundai MotorsSeoul World Cup StadiumSaturdayAfternoon
31,1922326 July 2015Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors2 – 1Suwon Samsung BluewingsJeonju World Cup StadiumSundayEvening
30,41092 May 2015Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors2 – 0Suwon Samsung BluewingsJeonju World Cup StadiumSaturdayAfternoon
29,0463119 September 2015Suwon Samsung Bluewings0 – 3FC SeoulSuwon World Cup StadiumSaturdayAfternoon
28,4603721 November 2015Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors1 – 1Seongnam FCJeonju World Cup StadiumSaturdayAfternoon
26,4333012 September 2015Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors3 – 0FC SeoulJeonju World Cup StadiumSaturdayAfternoon
26,250718 April 2015Suwon Samsung Bluewings5 – 1FC SeoulSuwon World Cup StadiumSaturdayAfternoon
24,2623525 October 2015FC Seoul0 – 0Jeonbuk Hyundai MotorsSeoul World Cup StadiumSundayAfternoon
23,81017 March 2015Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors2 – 0Seongnam FCJeonju World Cup StadiumSaturdayAfternoon

Awards

Most Valuable Player of The Round

Manager of the Month
Month Manager Club Division
March Nam Ki-il Gwangju FC K League Classic
April Choi Kang-hee Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors K League Classic
May Kim Hak-bum Seongnam FC K League Classic
June Park Hang-seo Sangju Sangmu K League Challenge
July Choi Kang-hee Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors K League Classic
August Kim Hak-bum Seongnam FC K League Classic
September Hwang Sun-hong Pohang Steelers K League Classic
October Lee Young-jin Daegu FC K League Challenge
November Cho Duck-je Suwon FC K League Challenge

Season Awards

The 2015 K League Awards was held on 1 December 2015.

K League Most Valuable Player

K League Young Player

K League Top Scorer

K League Top Assistor

K League Best XI
Position Player Club
Goalkeeper Kwon Sun-tae Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Defender Hong Chul Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Defender Matej Jonjić Incheon United
Defender Kim Kee-hee Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Defender Cha Du-ri FC Seoul
Midfielder Yeom Ki-hun Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Midfielder Lee Jae-sung Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Midfielder Kwon Chang-hoon Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Midfielder Song Jin-hyung Jeju United
Forward Lee Dong-gook Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Forward Adriano FC Seoul

K League Manager of the Year

K League Special Award

'FAN'tastic Player

References
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