Korean FA Cup


The Korean FA Cup is a national football cup knockout competition of South Korea, held annually by the Korea Football Association. Its previous format began in 1921, as the All Joseon Football Tournament and later became the National Football Championship, but the FA Cup in its present format began in 1996. The winner gains entry to the next season's AFC Champions League group stage.

History

The All Joseon Football Tournament was founded by the Joseon Sports Council in 1921, during Japanese rule in Korea. Youth, student and adult football clubs from various provinces participated. After 1934, it became a part of the Korean National Sports Festival, which was the championship for various sports games and matched Koreans against other sports championships operated by Japanese who lived in Korea. The Joseon Sports Council was disbanded in 1937, due to the Japanese government's oppression, and the Korea Football Association succeeded it after 1938, but was cancelled after 1940 for the same reason during World War II.
After the liberation of Korea, the KFA founded the National Football Championship and the President's Cup, entered by many semi-professional clubs and amateur clubs from all over South Korea. They opened in spring and late autumn each.
The National Championship declined after the founding of the K League, because professional clubs and famous players didn't take part in it. There were several efforts to make professional clubs join the tournament, and it became so successful that many top-rank clubs joined the championship, renamed "FA Cup", until the 1989 season. However, it soon returned to a semi-professional tournament in 1990, because of discord between the KFA and professional clubs. The current FA Cup separated from the National Championship in 1996, and two competitions merged again since 2001. The President's Cup was also abolished in 2010.

Format

1996–2005

The Korean FA Cup took place after the end of the regular K League season, and was usually completed over a short period. Games were played in a single-elimination format, with extra time and penalties if required. K League sides were seeded in the 1st round of the tournament proper, but all matches were played at neutral venues, such as Gimcheon and Namhae.

2006–present

To elevate the status of the tournament, matches were spread throughout the year. The 2006 edition, for example, started in early March, with rounds also held in April, July, August and November. The final was played in December. As in previous years, the competition was contested in a straight knockout format.

Sponsorship

are the most successful club in the Korean FA Cup history with five titles. Five clubs, including the Pohang Steelers, Jeonnam Dragons, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Suwon Samsung Bluewings and Seongnam FC, have won the Korean FA Cup more than twice.

Finals

Titles by club

K League official policy is that current clubs succeed to predecessor clubs' history & records.
ClubWinnersRunners-upWinning SeasonsRunners-up Seasons
Suwon Samsung Bluewings532002, 2009, 2010, 2016, 20191996, 2006, 2011
Pohang Steelers431996, 2008, 2012, 20132001, 2002, 2007
Seongnam FC331999, 2011, 20141997, 2000, 2009
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors322000, 2003, 20051999, 2013
Jeonnam Dragons311997, 2006, 20072003
FC Seoul221998, 20152014, 2016
Busan IPark1220042010, 2017
Ulsan Hyundai1220171998, 2018
Daejeon Hana Citizen102001
Daegu FC102018
Gyeongnam FC022008, 2012
Jeju United012004
Hyundai Mipo Dockyard012005
Incheon United012015
Daejeon Korail012019

Award winners

MVP Award

SeasonPlayerClub
1996 Cho Jin-hoPohang Steelers
1997 Kim Jung-hyukJeonnam Dragons
1998 Kang Chun-hoAnyang LG Cheetahs
1999 Park Nam-yeolCheonan Ilhwa Chunma
2000 Park Sung-baeJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
2001 Kim Eun-jungDaejeon Citizen
2002 Seo Jung-wonSuwon Samsung Bluewings
2003 EdmilsonJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
2004 Kim Yong-daeBusan I'Cons
2005 Milton RodríguezJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
2006 Kim Hyo-ilJeonnam Dragons
2007 Kim Chi-wooJeonnam Dragons
2008 Choi Hyo-jinPohang Steelers
2009 Lee Woon-jaeSuwon Samsung Bluewings
2010 Yeom Ki-hunSuwon Samsung Bluewings
2011 Cho Dong-geonSeongnam Ilhwa Chunma
2012 Hwang Ji-sooPohang Steelers
2013 Shin Hwa-yongPohang Steelers
2014 Park Jun-hyukSeongnam FC
2015 Yojiro TakahagiFC Seoul
2016 Yeom Ki-hunSuwon Samsung Bluewings
2017 Kim Yong-daeUlsan Hyundai
2018 CesinhaDaegu FC
2019 Ko Seung-beomSuwon Samsung Bluewings

Top Scorer Award

Goals from Round of 32 are counted.

If three or more players finished with the same number of goals as the top scorer, the award was not presented.