Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

Beginnings

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors' predecessor was founded in January 1993 under the name Wansan Pumas. Oh Hyung-keun was the founder of the team, the first to be named after its home location in K League history. However, they failed to raise enough funds and the club went bankrupt before they could take their place in the K League. Many people wanted to keep the club and Bobae Ltd., a local alcohol producer, offered financial support to the club. In 1994, they joined the K League after renaming as Chonbuk Buffalo, but ran into financial problems and were dissolved after the final match of the 1994 season.

In 1994, South Korea was in the campaign to host the 2002 FIFA World Cup, so Hyundai Motors, who was in the process of building Hyundai Jeonju Plant,^[2] took over the Buffaloes' players and formed a new club called Chonbuk Dinos on 12 December 1994. The K League's official policy is that Chonbuk Buffalo and Chonbuk Dinos (later renaming as Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors) are two different clubs.^[1]

Domination in K League and success in Asia (2005–2021)

Since 1994, Jeonbuk had not seriously challenged for the K League title, often languishing in mid-table.^[1] After Choi Kang-hee was appointed manager in July 2005, Jeonbuk won the Korean FA Cup in December of that year.^[1] In 2006, Jeonbuk finished a disappointing eleventh in the K League, however, they won their first AFC Champions League title.^[1] En route to the final, they defeated the Japanese champions, Gamba Osaka, and China's Shanghai Shenhua,^[3] as well as Ulsan Horang-i, the South Korean champions, in the semi-finals.^[4] They then triumphed 3–2 on aggregate over Al-Karamah, the champions of Syria, in the final.^[5]

As AFC Champions League winners, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors qualified for the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup.^[6] They lost their first game 1–0 to América in the quarter-finals on 10 December, however, they defeated Auckland City 3–0 on 14 December and finished fifth in the tournament.^[6] In 2009, Jeonbuk became the Korean champions for the first time after beating Seongnam Ilhwa 3–1 on aggregate in the K League Championship.^[1][7] They repeated the feat in 2011 and won their second domestic title after defeating Ulsan Hyundai 4–2 in the final.^[8][9] The same year, they also reached the AFC Champions League final, where they lost to Al-Sadd after a penalty shoot-out.^[10]

With significant investment from its parent company, Jeonbuk completed its state of the art Yulsori Clubhouse (club training center) in nearby Wanju County in 2013.^[11] Hyundai's generous support and Choi Kang-hee's aggressive play style led to the club dominating the K League for the next several years, with the club winning the 2014 and 2015 titles.

2016 was a tumultuous year for Jeonbuk. The club won their second AFC Champions League title after defeating Al-Ain 3–2 on aggregate,^[12] but the team came under fire in the domestic front for allegedly bribing referees through a scout.^[13] The club was fined and had nine points deducted from their 2016 league campaign, resulting in rivals FC Seoul claiming the title. Despite being champions of Asia, the club's participation in the 2017 AFC Champions League was revoked due to this incident.^[14]

The club continued to enjoy success in the K League, securing the next five consecutive titles.^[15] Additionally, they won the 2020 Korean FA Cup, defeating rising rivals Ulsan over two legs to mark their first-ever domestic double.^[16]

Decline (2022–2024)

The 2022 season marked the beginning of Jeonbuk's decline, dramatically losing the title to now chief rivals Ulsan^[17] by three points. The club, however, won the 2022 Korean FA Cup. The following year led to even poorer results, with the club finishing fourth in the 2023 season,^[18] their lowest league finish since 2008. Jeonbuk also failed to win a second consecutive FA Cup, being defeated by Pohang Steelers in the 2023 final.^[19] The fourth-place finish and failure to win the FA Cup meant the club was unable to participate in the rebranded 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite.

Jeonbuk's decline escalated in the 2024 season, with the club finishing tenth and flirting with relegation for the first time in its history.^[20] The club narrowly avoided relegation to K League 2 by defeating Seoul E-Land in the promotion-relegation play-offs.^[21]

Return to power (2025–present)

In December 2024, Jeonbuk appointed Uruguayan manager Gus Poyet in a bid to achieve its former glory.^[22] In the club's first competitive match under Poyet, they defeated Thai side Port FC 4–0 away in the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two, including two goals by new signing Andrea Compagno.^[23]

Under Poyet's leadership, Jeonbuk decisively won the 2025 K League 1 with five games to spare to clinch their record-extending tenth title and the first since 2021.^[24] During the season, they went on a 22-match undefeated streak, which is tied for the third-longest run in K League history.^[25] Jeonbuk also won the 2025 Korea Cup after defeating Gwangju FC in the final, securing their second double and first since 2020.^[26] However, two days after the final, Poyet stepped down as manager after his assistant Mauricio Taricco received a suspension.^[27]

Jeonbuk won its first trophy under new manager Chung Jung-yong when it defeated Daejeon Hana Citizen in the 2026 K League Super Cup, which was held for the first time since 2006.^[28]

Supporters

Jeonbuk is the most popular football team and the second most popular sports team in South Korea behind only Kia Tigers of the KBO League. The club draws over two million supporters^[29] from all over the country and particularly from the Honam region. It has almost half a million followers on TikTok, boosted by the international popularity of former player Cho Gue-sung, who scored a brace in South Korea's group stage match versus Ghana in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.^[30] The club's main supporters group is called the Mad Green Boys, who sit at the North Stand of their stadium.

Rivalries

Seoul Metropolitan Area clubs

Jeonbuk shares strong rivalries with FC Seoul (Jeonseol Match)^[31] and Suwon Samsung Bluewings (Gongseongjeon),^[32] the two most popular football clubs of the Seoul Metropolitan Area. The three-way rivalry these teams share represent the business rivalry between their parent companies Hyundai, LG, and Samsung–three of the largest business conglomerates in South Korea. Their rivalry was the most intense in the 2010s, when Jeonbuk came to dominate the K League while Seoul and Suwon declined.

Jeonbuk supporters set a team record of over 7,600 away fans at a league match against Seoul on 3 May 2025, highlighting their rivalry.^[33]

Current squad

As of 20 March 2026^[42]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

More information No., Pos. ...

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  KOR Lee Ju-hyun 2 DF  KOR Kim Young-bin 3 DF  KOR Yeon Je-un 4 DF  KOR Cho Wi-je 5 DF  KOR Park Ji-soo (vice-captain) 6 MF  KOR Maeng Seong-ung 7 FW  KOR Lee Dong-jun 8 MF  BRA Oberdan 9 FW  BRA Tiago Orobó 10 FW  KOR Lee Seung-woo 11 FW  KOR Kim Seung-sub 13 MF  KOR Kang Sang-yoon 15 DF  KOR Kim Ha-jun 16 MF  POR João Gamboa 17 MF  KOR Jin Tae-ho 19 FW  KOR Park Ju-yeong 21 FW  GHA Patrick Twumasi 22 DF  KOR Kim Jun-yeong 23 DF  KOR Kim Tae-hwan (captain) 24 DF  KOR Lee Sang-myung 26 MF  KOR Moon Joon-hyuk 27 DF  KOR Hwang Seung-jun 28 MF  KOR Lee Yeong-jae 29 GK  KOR Gong Si-hyeon 30 MF  KOR Kim Young-hwan 31 GK  KOR Song Bum-keun (vice-captain)

No. Pos. Nation Player 33 FW  KOR Han Seok-jin 34 FW  KOR Um Seung-min 36 MF  KOR Jang Nam-ung 39 DF  KOR Seo Jeong-hyeok 40 FW  KOR An Tae-hoon 42 MF  KOR Woo Hyun-soo 44 DF  KOR Kim Ju-hyung 47 MF  KOR Lee Gun-hee 51 GK  KOR Lee Han-gyeol 55 DF  KOR Choi Jin-woong 66 DF  KOR Choi Woo-jin 70 MF  KOR Park Hyun-min 71 GK  KOR Jeon Ji-wan 73 MF  KOR Kim Ye-geon 74 DF  KOR Kim Su-hyung 77 DF  KOR Kim Tae-hyun (vice-captain) 79 FW  KOR Kim Chang-hoon 80 DF  KOR Kwak Hee-byeok 88 MF  KOR Yun Hyun-seok 90 FW  KOR Jeong Sang-woon 91 GK  KOR Jeong Dae-young 92 FW  KOR Kim Doo-hyeon 96 FW  ITA Andrea Compagno 97 MF  KOR Kim Jin-gyu 98 FW  KOR Lim Jun-hwi 99 FW  BRA Bruno Mota (on loan from FC Anyang)

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Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

More information No., Pos. ...

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF  KOR Byeon Jun-soo (at Gimcheon Sangmu for military service) — MF  KOR Lee Soo-bin (at Gimcheon Sangmu for military service)

No. Pos. Nation Player — FW  KOR Jeon Byung-kwan (at Gimcheon Sangmu for military service)

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Retired numbers

20 – Lee Dong-gook
25 – Choi Chul-soon

Coaching staff

• Head coach: Chung Jung-yong
• Goalkeeping coach: Hwang Hee-hoon
• Fitness coach: Vacant
• Reserve team manager: An Dae-hyun
• Reserve team coaches: Kim Kwang-suk, Jung Boo-sun, Woo Jung-ha

Source: Official website^[43][44]

Support staff

• Team doctor: Song Ha-heon
• Physiotherapist: Gilvan Oliveira
• Medical trainers: Kim Byeong-seon, Lee Gyu-yeol, Noh Sang-keun
• Reserve team medical trainer: Park Jeong-hun
• Analyst: Lee Sun-gu
• Reserve team analyst: Park Jun-wan
• Kit manager: Choi Jae-hyeok
• Interpreters: Kim James Min-su, Pyo Seok-hwan

Source: Official website^[45][44]

Domestic

• K League 1
  • Winners (10): 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2025
  • Runners-up (3): 2012, 2016, 2022

• Korea Cup
  • Winners (6): 2000, 2003, 2005, 2020, 2022, 2025
  • Runners-up (3): 1999, 2013, 2023

• Korean League Cup
  • Runners-up (1): 2010

• K League Super Cup
  • Winners (2): 2004, 2026
  • Runners-up (2): 2001, 2006

• Korean President's Cup
  • Runners-up (1): 1999 (reserve team)

International

• AFC Champions League
  • Winners (2): 2006, 2016
  • Runners-up (1): 2011

• Asian Cup Winners' Cup
  • Runners-up (1): 2002

Domestic record

Continental record

All results list Jeonbuk's goal tally first.

AFC Champions League

More information Season, Round ...

Season	Round	Opposition	Home	Away	Agg.
2004	Group E	Júbilo Iwata	1–2	4–2	1st
		Shanghai Shenhua	0–1	1–0
		BEC Tero Sasana	4–0	4–0
	Quarter-final	Al-Ain	4–1	1–0	5–1
	Semi-final	Al-Ittihad	2–2	1–2	3–4
2006	Group E	Gamba Osaka	3–2	1–1	1st
		Dalian Shide	3–1	0–1
		Da Nang	3–0	1–0
	Quarter-final	Shanghai Shenhua	4–2	0–1	4–3
	Semi-final	Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i	2–3	4–1	6–5
	Final	Al-Karamah	2–0	1–2	3–2
2007	Quarter-final	Urawa Red Diamonds	0–2	1–2	1–4
2010	Group F	Persipura Jayapura	8–0	4–1	2nd
		Kashima Antlers	1–2	1–2
		Changchun Yatai	1–0	2–1
	Round of 16	Adelaide United	—N/a	3–2 (a.e.t.)	—N/a
	Quarter-final	Al-Shabab	0–2	1–0	1–2
2011	Group G	Shandong Luneng	1–0	2–1	1st
		Arema	6–0	4–0
		Cerezo Osaka	1–0	0–1
	Round of 16	Tianjin TEDA	3–0	—N/a	—N/a
	Quarter-final	Cerezo Osaka	6–1	3–4	9–5
	Semi-final	Al-Ittihad	2–1	3–2	5–3
	Final	Al-Sadd	2–2 (a.e.t.) (2–4 p)	—N/a	—N/a
2012	Group H	Guangzhou Evergrande	1–5	3–1	3rd
		Kashiwa Reysol	0–2	1–5
		Buriram United	3–2	2–0
2013	Group F	Muangthong United	2–0	2–2	2nd
		Guangzhou Evergrande	1–1	0–0
		Urawa Red Diamonds	2–2	3–1
	Round of 16	Kashiwa Reysol	0–2	2–3	2–5
2014	Group G	Yokohama F. Marinos	3–0	1–2	2nd
		Melbourne Victory	0–0	2–2
		Guangzhou Evergrande	1–0	1–3
	Round of 16	Pohang Steelers	1–2	0–1	1–3
2015	Group E	Kashiwa Reysol	0–0	2–3	2nd
		Shandong Luneng	4–1	4–1
		Becamex Binh Duong	3–0	1–1
	Round of 16	Beijing Guoan	1–1	1–0	2–1
	Quarter-final	Gamba Osaka	0–0	2–3	2–3
2016	Group E	FC Tokyo	2–1	3–0	1st
		Jiangsu Suning	2–2	2–3
		Becamex Binh Duong	2–0	2–3
	Round of 16	Melbourne Victory	2–1	1–1	3–2
	Quarter-final	Shanghai SIPG	5–0	0–0	5–0
	Semi-final	FC Seoul	4–1	1–2	5–3
	Final	Al-Ain	2–1	1–1	3–2
2018	Group E	Kashiwa Reysol	3–2	2–0	1st
		Kitchee	3–0	6–0
		Tianjin Quanjian	6–3	2–4
	Round of 16	Buriram United	2–0	2–3	4–3
	Quarter-final	Suwon Samsung Bluewings	0–3	3–0 (a.e.t.)	3–3 (2–4 p)
2019	Group G	Beijing Guoan	3–1	1–0	1st
		Buriram United	0–0	0–1
		Urawa Red Diamonds	2–1	1–0
	Round of 16	Shanghai SIPG	1–1 (a.e.t.)	1–1	2–2 (3–5 p)
2020	Group H[a]	Yokohama F. Marinos	1–2	1–4	3rd
		Shanghai SIPG	1–2	2–0
		Sydney FC	1–0	2–2
2021	Group H[a]	Chiangrai United	2–1	3–1	1st
		Gamba Osaka	2–1	2–2
		Tampines Rovers	9–0	4–0
	Round of 16	BG Pathum United	1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–2 p)
	Quarter-final	Ulsan Hyundai	2–3 (a.e.t.)
2022	Group H[a]	Sydney FC	0–0	3–2	2nd
		Yokohama F. Marinos	1–1	1–0
		Hoàng Anh Gia Lai	1–0	1–1
	Round of 16	Daegu FC	2–1 (a.e.t.)
	Quarter-final	Vissel Kobe	3–1 (a.e.t.)
	Semi-final	Urawa Red Diamonds	2–2 (a.e.t.) (1–3 p)
2023–24	Group F	Kitchee	2–1	2–1	2nd
		Bangkok United	3–2	2–3
		Lion City Sailors	3–0	0–2
	Round of 16	Pohang Steelers	2–0	1–1	3–1
	Quarter-final	Ulsan HD	1–1	0–1	1–2

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1. [a]

   Matches were played at neutral venues due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with "home" and "away" used for administrative purposes.

AFC Champions League Two

More information Season, Round ...

Season	Round	Opposition	Home	Away	Agg.
2024–25	Group H	DH Cebu	4–0	6–0	1st
		Muangthong United	4–1	0–1
		Selangor	1–0	1–2
	Round of 16	Port	1–0	4–0	5–0
	Quarter-final	Sydney FC	0–2	2–3	2–5

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