2016 K League Classic

The 2016 K League Classic was the 34th season of the top division of professional football in South Korea since its establishment in 1983 as K League and the fourth season in its current name, the K League Classic.

Hyundai Oilbank
K League Classic 2016
Season2016
ChampionsFC Seoul
(6th title)
RelegatedSeongnam FC
Suwon FC
Champions LeagueFC Seoul
Jeju United
Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Ulsan Hyundai
Matches played228
Goals scored618 (2.71 per match)
Top goalscorerJung Jo-gook
(20 goals)
Biggest home winSeoul 4–0 Sangju
(20 March 2016)
Sangju 4–0 Jeju
(15 June 2016)
Pohang 4–0 Ulsan
(29 June 2016)
Biggest away winJeonnam 0–5 Jeonbuk
(2 November 2016)
Highest scoringSuwon 4–5 Suwon FC
(2 October 2016)
Highest attendance47,899 Seoul vs Suwon (R15)
Lowest attendance923 Sangju vs Jeonnam (R34)
Average attendance7,873
← 2015
2017 →

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors were the defending champions, having won the title for two consecutive years in 2014 and 2015.

Promotion and relegation

Teams relegated to 2016 K League Challenge

Teams promoted from the 2015 K League Challenge

Participating clubs
Location of teams in 2016 K League Classic

The following 12 clubs competed in the K League Classic during the 2016 season.

Club City / Area Manager Joined Owner(s) / Sponsor(s)
0 Gwangju FC 0 Gwangju Nam Ki-il 2010– Owner : Government of Gwangju, Citizen Stockholder
0 Incheon United 0 Incheon Lee Ki-hyung (c) 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 Choi Jin-cheul 1983– Owner : POSCO
0 Sangju Sangmu 0 Sangju, Gyeongbuk Cho Jin-ho
2011–
 Owner : Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps
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 FC 0 Suwon, Gyeonggi Cho Duck-je 2013– Owner : Government of Suwon, Citizen Stockholder
0 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 0 Suwon, Gyeonggi Seo Jung-won 1996– Owner : Cheil Worldwide in Samsung
Sponsors: Samsung Electronics, Maeil Dairies Industry
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:
Gwangju FC Incheon United Jeju United Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Jeonnam Dragons Pohang Steelers
Gwangju World Cup Stadium Incheon Football Stadium Jeju World Cup Stadium Jeonju World Cup Stadium Gwangyang Football Stadium Pohang Steel Yard
Capacity: 40,245 Capacity: 20,891 Capacity: 35,657 Capacity: 42,477 Capacity: 13,496 Capacity: 17,443
Sangju Sangmu Seongnam FC FC Seoul Suwon FC Suwon Samsung
Bluewings		 Ulsan Hyundai
Sangju Civic Stadium Tancheon Stadium Seoul World Cup Stadium Suwon Sports Complex Suwon World Cup Stadium Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
Capacity: 15,042 Capacity: 16,146 Capacity: 66,704 Capacity: 11,808 Capacity: 43,959 Capacity: 44,102

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing Manner Table Date Incoming Table Date
Pohang Steelers Hwang Sun-hong End of contract preseason Choi Jin-cheul preseason
Sangju Sangmu Park Hang-seo End of contract preseason Cho Jin-ho preseason
Incheon United Kim Do-hoon Resigned 12 2016-08-31 Not announced yet
Pohang Steelers Choi Jin-cheul Resigned 9 2016-09-25 Choi Soon-ho 9 2016-09-26
Jeju United Jo Sung-hwan Assigned to assistant manager 3 2016-10-14 Kim In-soo 3 2016-10-14
Jeonnam Dragons Roh Sang-rae Assigned to assistant manager 5 2016-10-14 Song Kyung-sub 5 2016-10-14

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.

As of 2 October 2016
Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Asian Player
Gwangju FC Olivier Bonnes Tomoki Wada
Incheon United Kevin Oris Matej Jonjić Krste Velkoski Lương Xuân Trường
Jeju United Henan Marcelo Toscano Wanderson
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Edu Leonardo Ricardo Lopes
Jeonnam Dragons Jair Maurinho Vedran Jugović Tomislav Mrčela
Pohang Steelers Lulinha Muralha Lazar Veselinović Ali Abbas
Seongnam FC Pitu Silvinho
FC Seoul Adriano Dejan Damjanović Osmar Barba Yojiro Takahagi
Suwon FC Bruce Djite Jaime Gavilán Vladan Adžić Adrian Leijer
Suwon Samsung Bluewings Johnathan Santos Romeo Castelen
Ulsan Hyundai Célio Santos Ivan Kovačec Frédéric Mendy Chikashi Masuda

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 FC Seoul (C) 38 21 7 10 67 46 +21 70 Champions League group stage
2 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors[lower-alpha 1] 38 20 16 2 71 40 +31 67
3 Jeju United 38 17 8 13 71 57 +14 59 Champions League group stage
4 Ulsan Hyundai 38 14 12 12 41 47 −6 54 Champions League play-off round
5 Jeonnam Dragons 38 12 11 15 44 53 −9 47
6 Sangju Sangmu 38 12 7 19 54 65 −11 43
7 Suwon Samsung Bluewings[lower-alpha 2] 38 10 18 10 56 59 −3 48 Champions League group stage
8 Gwangju FC 38 11 14 13 41 45 −4 47
9 Pohang Steelers 38 12 10 16 43 46 −3 46
10 Incheon United 38 11 12 15 43 51 −8 45
11 Seongnam FC (R) 38 11 10 17 47 51 −4 43 Qualification to relegation play-offs
12 Suwon FC (R) 38 10 9 19 40 58 −18 39 Relegation to 2017 K League Challenge
Source: K League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head points
(C) Champion; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. Jeonbuk were deducted 9 points due to bribery scandal.[1] On 18 January 2017, they were excluded from the 2017 AFC Champions League.[2]
  2. Suwon Samsung Bluewings qualified for the 2017 AFC Champions League group stage as 2016 Korean FA Cup winners.

Positions by matchday

  Leader & 2017 AFC Champions League
  Qualification to 2017 AFC Champions League
  Relegation playoffs
  Relegation to the 2017 K League Challenge

Round 1-22
Team ╲ Round12345678910111213141516171819202122
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors4423322222211111111111
FC Seoul10532111111122222222222
Ulsan Hyundai111184458688555543433333
Seongnam FC2311233333334456545544
Sangju Sangmu2710101085465678865774455
Jeju United1698544544443334356666
Pohang Steelers515671010856887787667777
Gwangju FC5269977979766678888888
Jeonnam Dragons78111111111111111111111110101010111110109
Suwon Samsung Bluewings1110778667979999999999910
Incheon United9121212121212121212121212111111111010111111
Suwon FC7945699101010101010121212121212121212
Source: kleague.com

Round 23-38

Split rounds are from round 34 to round 38

Team ╲ Round23242526272829303132333435363738
FC Seoul2222222222222221
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors1111111111111112
Jeju United6667634444333333
Ulsan Hyundai5434453333444444
Jeonnam Dragons91089988855555555
Sangju Sangmu3553345566666666
Suwon Samsung Bluewings10910101010109910101010877
Gwangju FC8876776788977788
Pohang Steelers77988991010989910109
Incheon United11111111111212121111111111111110
Seongnam FC43455676777889911
Suwon FC12121212121111111212121212121212
Source: kleague.com

Results

Matches 1–22

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

Home \ Away GWJ ICU JJU JHM JND PHS SJS SEN SEO SUW SSB USH
Gwangju FC 2–2 1–0 1–1 0–0 0–1 1–0 1–1 1–2 1–0 1–1 0–2
Incheon United 0–1 2–1 0–0 0–0 0–2 1–0 2–3 1–2 2–0 1–1 0–1
Jeju United 3–2 3–1 1–2 3–0 3–1 4–2 2–2 3–2 0–0 2–2 1–2
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 3–0 1–1 2–1 2–1 3–0 3–2 3–2 1–0 3–1 2–1 2–1
Jeonnam Dragons 1–2 1–0 2–1 1–2 0–0 3–4 0–1 1–2 0–0 3–0 3–1
Pohang Steelers 3–3 3–1 1–0 1–1 0–1 0–2 3–1 2–1 0–1 2–2 4–0
Sangju Sangmu 0–4 4–2 4–0 2–2 3–2 2–0 2–3 2–1 1–1 0–1 2–0
Seongnam FC 2–0 0–1 0–0 2–2 0–0 1–0 2–3 2–3 1–2 2–0 0–1
FC Seoul 3–2 3–1 3–4 2–3 1–1 1–3 4–0 1–3 3–0 1–1 0–0
Suwon FC 2–1 0–0 2–5 2–2 1–2 1–0 0–3 1–1 0–3 1–2 1–1
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 0–2 2–2 1–0 2–3 2–2 1–1 2–1 1–2 1–1 1–0 2–4
Ulsan Hyundai 3–2 1–3 0–1 0–0 2–1 0–0 1–0 0–3 1–2 1–0 2–1
Updated to match(es) played on 30 July 2016. Source: K League
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matches 23–33

Teams play every other team once (either at home or away).

Home \ Away GWJ ICU JJU JHM JND PHS SJS SEN SEO SUW SSB USH
Gwangju FC 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–2 0–0 1–1
Incheon United 0–1 1–3 0–0 2–2 1–0 2–2
Jeju United 1–2 2–2 3–0 1–0 1–1
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2–2 1–0 2–1 1–1 1–1
Jeonnam Dragons 2–0 2–1 0–2 2–1 1–0 1–4
Pohang Steelers 1–0 0–1 0–0 1–0 2–3
Sangju Sangmu 1–5 1–1 2–2 1–2 1–1
Seongnam FC 0–1 2–0 1–4 1–2 2–1 1–2
FC Seoul 0–0 1–3 2–0 1–0 2–2
Suwon FC 2–0 5–3 0–0 0–2 0–1 1–2
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 5–3 1–1 1–1 4–5 0–0
Ulsan Hyundai 1–1 2–3 0–2 1–0 2–3 2–1
Updated to match(es) played on 2 October 2016. Source: K League
Colours: 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 2016 K League Challenge playoff and 11th club of the 2016 K League Classic. The winner on aggregate score after both matches earned entry into the 2017 K League Classic.

First leg
Gangwon FC0–0Seongnam FC
Report
Attendance: 3,039
Referee: Kim Hee-gon

Second leg
Seongnam FC1–1Gangwon FC
Hwang Jin-sung  77' Han Seok-jong  42'
Attendance: 6,548
Referee: Kim Seong-ho

Gangwon FC secured promotion to the 2017 K League Classic on away goals.

Season statistics

Attendance
Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
1 FC Seoul 342,134 47,889 5,011 18,007 +4.9%†
2 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 318,921 33,706 8,022 16,785 −3.6%†
3 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 202,214 28,109 4,042 10,643 −19.3%†
4 Ulsan Hyundai 166,132 20,239 3,074 8,744 +39.3%†
5 Pohang Steelers 145,937 16,509 3,711 7,681 −16.9%†
6 Seongnam FC 127,860 14,504 2,968 6,729 +18.8%†
7 Incheon United 121,068 14,246 2,829 6,053 +24.5%†
8 Jeju United 108,208 15,341 1,850 5,695 −12.9%†
9 Suwon FC 83,345 12,825 1,512 4,387 +223.8%†
10 Jeonnam Dragons 78,169 12,808 1,245 4,114 −5.1%†
11 Gwangju FC 66,031 10,638 926 3,475 +58.8%†
12 Sangju Sangmu 34,976 4,783 923 1,943 +57.3%†
League total 1,794,995 47,889 923 7,873 +2.0%†

Updated to games played on 6 November 2016
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
AttendanceRoundDateHomeScoreAwayVenue
47,8991518 June 2016FC Seoul1 – 1Suwon Samsung BluewingsSeoul World Cup Stadium
36,3092513 August 2016FC Seoul1 – 0Suwon Samsung BluewingsSeoul World Cup Stadium
33,706386 November 2016Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors0 – 1FC SeoulJeonju World Cup Stadium
32,695112 March 2016Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors1 – 0FC SeoulJeonju World Cup Stadium
28,109830 April 2016Suwon Samsung Bluewings1 – 1FC SeoulSuwon World Cup Stadium
25,950220 March 2016FC Seoul4 – 0Sangju SangmuSeoul World Cup Stadium
24,5082828 August 2016FC Seoul1 – 3Jeonbuk Hyundai MotorsSeoul World Cup Stadium
21,4372224 July 2016Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors2 – 1Ulsan HyundaiJeonju World Cup Stadium
21,0712410 August 2016Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors2 – 1Suwon FCJeonju World Cup Stadium
20,2392827 August 2016Ulsan Hyundai1 – 1Gwangju FCUlsan Munsu Football Stadium

Awards

Most Valuable Player of The Round

Manager of the Month
Month Manager Club Division
March/April Choi Yong-soo FC Seoul K League Classic
May Nam Ki-il Gwangju FC K League Classic
June Lee Heung-sil Ansan Mugunghwa K League Challenge
July Choi Kang-hee Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors K League Classic
August Choi Young-jun Busan IPark K League Challenge
September Choi Yun-kyum Gangwon FC K League Challenge
October Hwang Sun-hong FC Seoul K League Classic

Season Awards

The 2016 K League Awards was held on 8 November 2016.

K League Most Valuable Player

K League Young Player
  • The K League Young Player award was won by Ahn Hyun-beom (Jeju United).

K League Top Scorer

K League Top Assistor

K League Best XI
Position Player Club
Goalkeeper Kwon Sun-tae Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Defender Chung Woon Jeju United
Defender Osmar Barba FC Seoul
Defender Matej Jonjić Incheon United
Defender Ko Kwang-min FC Seoul
Midfielder Leonardo Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Midfielder Lee Jae-sung Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Midfielder Kwon Chang-hoon Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Midfielder Ricardo Lopes Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Forward Jung Jo-gook Gwangju FC
Forward Adriano FC Seoul

K League Manager of the Year

'FAN'tastic Player

References
  1. "Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors deducted nine K League Classic 2016 points and a fine of KRW100,000,000(about USD90,852)". The Fact Sports. 30 September 2016.
  2. "Reigning champions disqualified from top Asian club football tournament". english.yonhapnews.co.kr. 18 January 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
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