Korean FA Cup

Association football tournament in South Korea

Not to be confused with Korea Cup, held from 1971 to 1999.

Football tournament

Korea Cup

Founded| 1996; 29 years ago (1996)
Region| South Korea
International cup(s)| AFC Champions League Elite
AFC Champions League Two
Current champions| Pohang Steelers (2024)
Most successful club(s)| Pohang Steelers (6 titles)
Website| www.kfa.or.kr
2025 Korea Cup

The Korea Cup (Korean: 코리아컵), formerly the Korean FA Cup, is a national football cup knockout competition of South Korea, held annually by the Korea Football Association (KFA). Before the competition was established in 1996, two similar tournaments named All Joseon Football Tournament (1921–1940) and Korean National Football Championship (1946–2000) were played. It was renamed Korea Cup in 2024,[1] with the winners qualifying for the AFC Champions League Elite (if they finish top four in the K League 1) or the AFC Champions League Two (if they finish outside the top four in the K League 1).[2]

## History

[edit]

Main article: List of Korean FA Cup winners

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 Joseon Football Association (currently KFA) succeeded it after 1938, but was cancelled after 1940 for the same reason during World War II.[3][4]

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 Football 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,[5] and it became so successful that many top-rank clubs joined the championship, renamed "FA Cup", during 1988 and 1989 season.[6] 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

[edit]

### 1996–2005

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

Sponsor  | Season  | Competition

|
|

None | 1996–1997  | FA Cup
TG Sambo | 1998  | Sambo Change Up FA Cup
1999  | Sambo Computer FA Cup
Seoul Bank | 2000–2001  | Seoul Bank FA Cup
2002  | Hana-Seoul Bank FA Cup
Hana Bank | 2002
2003–2015  | Hana Bank FA Cup
2015–2019  | KEB Hana Bank FA Cup
2020–2021  | Hana Bank FA Cup
2022–2023  | Hana 1Q FA Cup
2024–present  | Hana Bank Korea Cup

## Results

[edit]

See also: List of Korean FA Cup winners

### Finals

[edit]

Season  | Champions  | Score  | Runners-up

|
|
|

1996 | Pohang Atoms | 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(7–6 p) | Suwon Samsung Bluewings
1997 | Jeonnam Dragons | 1–0  | Cheonan Ilhwa Chunma
1998 | Anyang LG Cheetahs | 2–1  | Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i
1999 | Cheonan Ilhwa Chunma | 3–0  | Jeonbuk Hyundai Dinos
2000 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2–0  | Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
2001 | Daejeon Citizen | 1–0  | Pohang Steelers
2002 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 1–0  | Pohang Steelers
2003 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2–2 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 p) | Jeonnam Dragons
2004 | Busan I'Cons | 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p) | Bucheon SK
2005 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 1–0  | Hyundai Mipo Dockyard
2006 | Jeonnam Dragons | 2–0  | Suwon Samsung Bluewings
2007 | Jeonnam Dragons | 3–2  | Pohang Steelers
3–1
2008 | Pohang Steelers | 2–0  | Gyeongnam FC
2009 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 p) | Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
2010 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 1–0  | Busan IPark
2011 | Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma | 1–0  | Suwon Samsung Bluewings
2012 | Pohang Steelers | 1–0 (a.e.t.)  | Gyeongnam FC
2013 | Pohang Steelers | 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p) | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
2014 | Seongnam FC | 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 p) | FC Seoul
2015 | FC Seoul | 3–1  | Incheon United
2016 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 2–1  | FC Seoul
1–2 (a.e.t.)
(10–9 p)
2017 | Ulsan Hyundai | 2–1  | Busan IPark
0–0
2018 | Daegu FC | 2–1  | Ulsan Hyundai
3–0
2019 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 0–0  | Daejeon Korail
4–0
2020 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 1–1  | Ulsan Hyundai
2–1
2021 | Jeonnam Dragons | 0–1  | Daegu FC
4–3 (a)
2022 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2–2  | FC Seoul
3–1
2023 | Pohang Steelers | 4–2  | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
2024 | Pohang Steelers | 3–1 (a.e.t.)  | Ulsan HD

### Titles by club

[edit]

* Clubs shown in italics no longer exist.

Club  | Champions  | Runners-up  | Winning seasons  | Runners-up seasons

|
|
|
|

Pohang Steelers |

| 1996, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2023, 2024 | 2001, 2002, 2007
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |

| 2000, 2003, 2005, 2020, 2022 | 1999, 2013, 2023
Suwon Samsung Bluewings |

| 2002, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2019 | 1996, 2006, 2011
Jeonnam Dragons |

| 1997, 2006, 2007, 2021 | 2003
Seongnam FC |

| 1999, 2011, 2014 | 1997, 2000, 2009
FC Seoul |

| 1998, 2015 | 2014, 2016, 2022
Ulsan HD |

| 2017 | 1998, 2018, 2020, 2024
Busan IPark |

| 2004 | 2010, 2017
Daegu FC |

| 2018 | 2021
Daejeon Citizen |

| 2001 | —
Gyeongnam FC |

| —  | 2008, 2012
Jeju SK |

| —  | 2004
Hyundai Mipo Dockyard |

| —  | 2005
Incheon United |

| —  | 2015
Daejeon Korail | 0  | 1  | —  | 2019

## Awards

[edit]

### Most Valuable Player

[edit]

Season  | Player  | Club

|
|

1996 |  Cho Jin-ho | Pohang Steelers
1997 |  Kim Jung-hyuk | Jeonnam Dragons
1998 |  Kang Chun-ho | Anyang LG Cheetahs
1999 |  Park Nam-yeol | Cheonan Ilhwa Chunma
2000 |  Park Sung-bae | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
2001 |  Kim Eun-jung | Daejeon Citizen
2002 |  Seo Jung-won | Suwon Samsung Bluewings
2003 |  Edmilson | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
2004 |  Kim Yong-dae | Busan I'Cons
2005 |  Milton Rodríguez | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
2006 |  Kim Hyo-il | Jeonnam Dragons
2007 |  Kim Chi-woo | Jeonnam Dragons
2008 |  Choi Hyo-jin | Pohang Steelers
2009 |  Lee Woon-jae | Suwon Samsung Bluewings
2010 |  Yeom Ki-hun | Suwon Samsung Bluewings
2011 |  Cho Dong-geon | Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
2012 |  Hwang Ji-soo | Pohang Steelers
2013 |  Shin Hwa-yong | Pohang Steelers
2014 |  Park Jun-hyuk | Seongnam FC
2015 |  Yojiro Takahagi | FC Seoul
2016 |  Yeom Ki-hun | Suwon Samsung Bluewings
2017 |  Kim Yong-dae | Ulsan Hyundai
2018 |  Cesinha | Daegu FC
2019 |  Ko Seung-beom | Suwon Samsung Bluewings
2020 |  Lee Seung-gi | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
2021 |  Jeong Jae-hee | Jeonnam Dragons
2022 |  Cho Gue-sung | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
2023 |  Kim Jong-woo | Pohang Steelers
2024 |  Kim In-sung | Pohang Steelers

### Top goalscorer

[edit]

* Until 2019, only goals in the final rounds (from the round of 32 onwards) counted in the rankings.
* The award was not presented when no one scored more than three goals (two goals until 2007).
* The award was not presented when three or more players became top goalscorers.[7]

Season  | Player  | Club  | Goals

|
|
|

1996 |  Denis Laktionov | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 4
1997 |  Roh Sang-rae | Jeonnam Dragons | 6
1998 |  Kim Jong-kun | Ulsan Hyundai | 5
1999 |  Choi Yong-soo | Anyang LG Cheetahs | 5
2000 |  Cezinha | Jeonnam Dragons | 4
2001 |  Kim Eun-jung | Daejeon Citizen | 4
Choi Sung-kuk | Korea University
2002 | Not awarded
2003
2004 |  Wang Jung-hyun | FC Seoul | 5
Jung Jo-gook | FC Seoul
2005 |  Milton Rodríguez | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 6
2006 |  Jang Nam-seok | Daegu FC | 3
2007 | Not awarded
2008 |  Kim Dong-chan | Gyeongnam FC | 6
2009 |  Stevica Ristić | Pohang Steelers | 5
2010 |  Ji Dong-won | Jeonnam Dragons | 5
Índio | Jeonnam Dragons
2011 |  Go Seul-ki | Ulsan Hyundai | 4
2012 | Not awarded
2013
2014 |  Kaio | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 4
2015 | Not awarded
2016 |  Adriano Michael Jackson | FC Seoul | 5
2017 | Not awarded
2018 |  Cesinha | Daegu FC | 5
2019 |  Yeom Ki-hun | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 5
2020 |  Gustavo | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 4
2021 |  Park Hee-seong | Jeonnam Dragons | 4
2022 |  Heo Yong-joon | Pohang Steelers | 4
2023 |  Gustavo | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 5
2024 |  Jeong Jae-hee | Pohang Steelers | 4

## See also

[edit]

* Korean President's Cup
* Korean League Cup
* Korean Super Cup

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Jee-ho, Yoo (22 February 2024). "(LEAD) Top nat'l football tournament renamed Korea Cup". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
2. ^ FA컵 명칭 <코리아컵>으로 변경 
 결승전은 서울에서 단판승부로 (in Korean). KFA. 22 February 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
3. ^ 大韓蹴球協會 편 『韓國蹴球百年史』라사라, p.163-166, p.220-226.
4. ^ "KFA: Archives: History". KFA. Archived from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
5. ^ 내년부터 축구의 "王中王(왕중왕)" 「FA컵대회」신설. Naver. Kyunghyang Shinmun. 15 November 1981. Retrieved 26 May 2020.[permanent dead link‍]
6. ^ FA컵축구 15일개막 프로•실업등42팀참가. Naver. Kyunghyang Shinmun. 10 November 1988. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
7. ^ [FA CUP FINAL] 득점상 올해도 ‘꽝?’ (in Korean). Maeil Business Newspaper. 30 October 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website (in Korean)
* South Korea – List of Cup Winners at RSSSF

* v
* t
* e

Korean FA Cup

Predecessors|

* All Joseon Tournament (1921–1940)
* National Championship (1946–2000)

Seasons|

* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Finals|

* Full list
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011

* v
* t
* e

Football in South Korea

* Governing body
* Korea Football Association
* Sub-themes
* Women's football
* Football in Seoul

National teams|

| Men|

* Senior
* Under-23
* Under-20
* Under-17
* Universiade
* Futsal
* Beach soccer

|

Women|

* Senior
* Under-20
* Under-17

League system|

| Professional|

* K League
* K League 1
* K League 2

|

Semi-professional|

* K3 League
* K4 League
* Semi-professional League
* National League

Women|

* WK League

Cup competitions|

| National cups|

* Korean FA Cup
* All Joseon Tournament
* National Championship

|

League cups|

* Korean League Cup
* Semi-professional Championship
* National League Championship

Super cups|

* Korean Super Cup

Other competitions|

* K League All-Star Game
* U-League
* R League
* FK-League
* FK Cup
* Korea Cup
* Kyung-Pyong Series
* President's Cup
* Peace Cup
* Men
* Women

Lists|

* Clubs
* Men
* Women
* Venues
* Champions
* League
* National cup

* Categories
* Men's players
* Women's players
* Expatriate players
* Managers
* Referees
* Venues
* Seasons

* v
* t
* e

AFC members national football cups

* Australia
* Bahrain
* Bangladesh
* Brunei
* Cambodia
* China
* Chinese Taipei
* Guam
* Hong Kong (Senior Shield)
* India
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Japan
* Jordan
* Korea DPR
* Korea Republic
* Kuwait
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Lebanon
* Macau
* Malaysia
* Maldives
* Mongolia
* Myanmar
* Nepal†
* Northern Mariana Islands
* Oman
* Pakistan
* Palestine
* Philippines
* Qatar
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* Singapore
* Sri Lanka†
* Syria
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* Thailand
* Timor Leste†
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† Currently not played
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