By
1987, five professional teams -- Daewoo, POSCO, Yukong, Hyundai
and LG -- were involved in a professional-only league. Ilhwa
joined the league in 1989, increasing its membership to six.
These six teams competed against each other until 1994 when
Chonbuk Hyundai joined the league. They were followed by Chunnum
Dragons in 1995 and Suwon Samsung in 1996. The addition of three
more teams encouraged a more professional approach by the League.
In 1997, the Taejon Citizen team became the K-League's 10th
team, giving the league respectability and status internationally.
In 1995, the teams changed their names to incorporate their
new homebases throughout Korea, creating Busan Daewoo, Ulsan
Hyundai and Anyang LG, for example.
The teams also adopted a more professional outlook and by
the mid 1990's Korean football had developed tremendously.
The K-league holds 182 matches from march through November.
Each clubs play 26 matches and top 6 clubs will move to the
play off. Play off will be held in from 22th to 30th of November.
Championship matches played under the home and away rule in
the first week of December.
As the first Asian country to establish a professional football
league, Korea is acknowledged as one of Asia's football super
powers.
Korean teams have had good results in the Asian Club Championship
and Asian Cup Winners Cup where the football champions of
Asia compete for the title. Recently, Jeonbuk Hyundai, a 2006
K-league Cup Tournament Champion, grabbed the trophy of 2007
AFC Champions League.
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