 | |
| Organising body | Korea Football Association |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2007; 17 years ago (2007) |
| First season | 2007 |
| Folded | 2019 |
| Country | South Korea |
| Divisions | K3 League Advanced K3 League Basic |
| Level on pyramid | 3 (2007–2012) 4 (2013–2016) 4–5 (2017–2019) |
| Domestic cup(s) | Korean FA Cup |
| League cup(s) | Challengers Cup |
| Most championships | Pocheon Citizen (6 titles) |
| K3 League | |
| Hangul | K3리그 |
|---|---|
| Revised Romanization | K3 Rigeu |
| McCune–Reischauer | K3 Rigŭ |
The K3 League was a South Korean amateur football league held annually from 2007 to 2019. It was considered the third-highest division of the South Korean football league system before the K League 2 was launched in 2013, and the fourth-highest division since then. In 2017, it was divided into K3 League Advanced and fifth-tier league K3 League Basic, and introduced a system of promotion and relegation. In 2020, it was reborn as a semi-professional league after merging with the Korea National League.
The K3 League had an exhibition season held in two stages with ten teams in 2007. The winners of both stages and the best two clubs in the overall standings qualified for the championship playoffs and the 2008 Korean FA Cup. Seoul United became inaugural champions after winning the championship playoffs.
After the league was officially launched in 2008, the number of participating clubs was increased to 18 until the 2010 season, while new clubs registered in the league or some of the existing clubs were dissolved due to financial problems. Seoul Pabal, which engaged in match-fixing scandal during the 2008 season, was also dissolved at that time.
It was renamed the Challengers League in 2011 and the K3 Challengers League in 2014, but used original name again since 2015 after being criticised for being confused with a youth league of K League clubs (which had the same name) and the K League Challenge.[1][2]
In 2017, it introduced a system of promotion and relegation, and was divided into the first division K3 League Advanced and the second division the K3 League Basic.
After the 2019 season, amateur level K3 League was revamped as a semi-professional league with the same name. The Korea National League and the K3 League Advanced were absorbed into the third division and were rebranded as the new K3 League.
| Club | Champions | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| Pocheon Citizen | 5 (2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016) | 1 (2014) |
| Gyeongju Citizen | 3 (2010, 2011, 2017) | 1 (2015) |
| Hwaseong FC | 2 (2014, 2019) | — |
| Yangju Citizen | 1 (2008) | 1 (2011) |
| Seoul United | 1 (2007) | — |
| Hwasung Shinwoo Electronics | — | 3 (2007, 2008, 2010) |
| Gwangju Gwangsan | — | 1 (2009) |
| Chuncheon FC | — | 1 (2012) |
| Paju Citizen | — | 1 (2013) |
| Yangpyeong FC | — | 1 (2019) |
| Cheongju City | — | 2 (2016, 2017) |
| Season | Champions | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Seoul Jungnang | Siheung Citizen |
| 2018 | Siheung Citizen | Paju Citizen |
| 2019 | Ulsan Citizen | Jeonju Citizen |
