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.
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
The following 12 clubs competed in the K League Classic during the 2016 season.
ClubCity / AreaManagerJoinedOwner / Sponsor
Gwangju FC Gwangju Nam Ki-il2010–Owner : Government of Gwangju, Citizen Stockholder
Incheon United Incheon Lee Ki-hyung 2004–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 Jin-cheul1983–Owner : POSCO
Sangju Sangmu Sangju, Gyeongbuk Cho Jin-ho
2011–
Owner : Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps
Seongnam FC Seongnam, Gyeonggi Kim Hak-bum1989–Owner : Government of Seongnam, Citizen Stockholder
FC Seoul Seoul Choi Yong-soo1984–Owner : GS Group
Suwon FC Suwon, Gyeonggi Cho Duck-je2013–Owner : Government of Suwon, Citizen Stockholder
Suwon Samsung Bluewings Suwon, Gyeonggi Seo Jung-won1996–Owner : Cheil Worldwide in Samsung
Sponsors: Samsung Electronics, Maeil Dairies Industry
Ulsan Hyundai Ulsan Yoon Jung-hwan1984–Owner : Hyundai Heavy Industries in Hyundai Heavy Industries Group

Stadiums

Gwangju FCIncheon UnitedJeju UnitedJeonbuk Hyundai MotorsJeonnam DragonsPohang Steelers
Gwangju World Cup StadiumIncheon Football StadiumJeju World Cup StadiumJeonju World Cup StadiumGwangyang Football StadiumPohang Steel Yard
Capacity: 40,245Capacity: 20,891Capacity: 35,657Capacity: 42,477Capacity: 13,496Capacity: 17,443
Sangju SangmuSeongnam FCFC SeoulSuwon FCSuwon Samsung
Bluewings		Ulsan Hyundai
Sangju Civic StadiumTancheon StadiumSeoul World Cup StadiumSuwon Sports ComplexSuwon World Cup StadiumUlsan Munsu Football Stadium
Capacity: 15,042Capacity: 16,146Capacity: 66,704Capacity: 11,808Capacity: 43,959Capacity: 44,102

Managerial changes

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
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

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 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

Second leg

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

Season statistics

Top scorers

Top assists

Attendance

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

MVPClub
1 Jung Jo-gookGwangju FC
2 AdrianoFC Seoul
3 Ivan KovačecUlsan Hyundai
4 Kim Chi-gonUlsan Hyundai
5 Ahn Hyun-beomJeju United
6 Kim Bo-kyungJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
7 Lee Keun-hoJeju United
8 Park Gi-dongSangju Sangmu
9 Yang Dong-hyunPohang Steelers
10 Ju Se-jongFC Seoul
11 Ivan KovačecUlsan Hyundai
12 Kim Yong-daeUlsan Hyundai
13 TiagoSeongnam FC
14 Dejan DamjanovićFC Seoul
15 Lee YongSangju Sangmu
16 Yang Dong-hyunPohang Steelers
17 Kim Min-hyeokGwangju FC
18 TiagoSeongnam FC
19 Kwon Chang-hoonSuwon Samsung Bluewings

MVPClub
20 Ricardo LopesJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
21 Ricardo LopesJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
22 Yang Dong-hyunPohang Steelers
23 Yeom Ki-hunSuwon Samsung Bluewings
24 Kweon Han-jinJeju United
25 Yun Il-lokFC Seoul
26 Dejan DamjanovićFC Seoul
27 Dejan DamjanovićFC Seoul
28 LeonardoJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
29 Han Chan-heeJeonnam Dragons
30 Frédéric MendyUlsan Hyundai
31 Kim Shin-wookJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
32 Ricardo LopesJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
33 Kim Byung-ohSuwon FC
34 Jung Jo-gookGwangju FC
35 Ahn Hyun-beomJeju United
36 Ricardo LopesJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
37 Lee Jae-sungJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
38 Park Chu-youngFC Seoul

Manager of the Month

Season Awards

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

K League Most Valuable Player


K League Best XI

PositionPlayerClub
Goalkeeper Kwon Sun-taeJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Defender Chung WoonJeju United
Defender Osmar BarbaFC Seoul
Defender Matej JonjićIncheon United
Defender Ko Kwang-minFC Seoul
Midfielder LeonardoJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Midfielder Lee Jae-sungJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Midfielder Kwon Chang-hoonSuwon Samsung Bluewings
Midfielder Ricardo LopesJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Forward Jung Jo-gookGwangju FC
Forward AdrianoFC Seoul

K League Manager of the Year