What are the oldest stadiums in K League? | OneFootball

What are the top ten oldest stadiums in K League? A question that nobody has asked, not a single soul, but, with the new season just around the corner, with away trips to plan and look forward to, let's have a look anyway.

Starting at the 10th-oldest and working our way up...

Seoul World Cup Stadium in 2024

In 2001 we had quite a lot of new stadiums built. Of course, there were the ones used in the 2002 World Cup. Daejeon World Cup Stadium, with a capacity of 40,535, is currently used by Daejeon Hana Citizen. Jeonju World Cup Stadium, which holds around 42,000, is home to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

Suwon World Cup Stadium, 44,000, is home to Suwon Bluewings.

The Munsu in Ulsan holds around 37,000 and is home to Ulsan HD. The Busan Asiad, built for the Asian Games in 2002 but also used in the World Cup, holds 53,000 and is sometimes the home of Busan IPark. Seoul World Cup Stadium can hold over 60,000 and is the home of FC Seoul and the South Korean national team.

Daegu Stadium in 2016

There’s also Daegu Stadium, originally called Daegu World Cup Stadium but was given a name change, which was the home of Daegu FC up until 2018. Not strictly a K League ground anymore but Daegu Stadium is now where Daegu’s B team play their home games.

But it wasn’t just the World Cup stadiums that were built in 2001. Bucheon Stadium was also built in 2001 - home to Bucheon FC 1995 and for some reason, it holds 34,000. Bucheon weren't founded until 2006, though.

And there’s Cheonan Stadium - which hasn’t been a K League stadium for that long. It holds 26,000 and for a spell in 2019, Seoul E-Land played their home games there, then Cheonan City’s rise to K League 2 meant it sealed its K League return.

9. Gimcheon Civic Stadium - 2000

It's the year 2000, and the worries of the 'millennium bug' have since vanished, but what North Gyeongsang did get was Gimcheon Civic Stadium which was built during this year. It holds 25,000 and had no tenant at all until the army team moved from Sangju to Gimcheon in 2021. It’s been mixed for Sangmu in their new home - relegated via the playoffs in 2022 and then promoted as champions a year later.

8. Pohang Steel Yard - 1990

Pohang Steel Yard in March 2015 for a soldout East Coast Derby

Pohang Steel Yard, the very first football-specific stadium built in Korea, opened in 1990 and has been the home to Pohang Steelers ever since. Its current capacity is around 14,000 but the attendance record there is over 28,000.

7. Gwangyang Football Stadium - 1992

'Dragon Dungeon' in Feb. 2022 before the start of the new season

Gwangyang Football Stadium, home of Jeonnam Dragons was built in 1992 and became the second football-specific stadium in the country. With Jeonnam also owned by POSCO, the owners of Pohang, it's easy to see why the steelmakers wanted another football-specific ground. It has a current capacity of 10,000 but the attendance record is actually around 23,000. Its nickname is the Dragon Dungeon.

6. Mokdong Sports Complex - 1989

Mokdong in 2024 for the playoffs

Heading back to the 1980s now for the creation of Mokdong Stadium which was built in 1989.

It’s actually had a few different tenets over the years. Bucheon SK, now Jeju SK, called Mokdong home from 1996 to 2000 and the LG Cheetahs, now FC Seoul, lived there for a year in 2001. Now it’s called Leol Park and is home to Seoul E-Land.

5. Anyang Sports Complex - 1986

Anyang Civic Stadium in 2024

Anyang Sports Complex was built in 1986. It’s had a few tenants - Yukong Elephants, later Bucheon SK, and now Jeju SK, from 1987 to 1990, Anyang LG Cheetahs from 1996 to 2003, and FC Anyang from 2013 to the present day. After over 20 years, the stadium will host K League 1 football in 2025 following FC Anyang's promotion to the top flight.

4. Gangneung Civic Stadium - 1984

Gangneung Civic Stadium in 2024

Gangneung Civic Stadium, the usual end-of-season home of Gangwon FC was built in 1984.

But you’ll never guess who used to call this stadium home… Ulsan, well not Ulsan but sort of. The Hyundai Horangi did, who later became Ulsan Hyundai Horangi and then Ulsan Hyundai played their home games here from 1987 to 1989. Come to think of it, it is kind of fitting, then, that Ulsan won the 2022 title there. Gangneung City in K3 also use this stadium, but of course, so do Gangwon FC and some of the best ball boys money can buy.

3. Suwon Civic Stadium - 1971

Suwon Civic Stadium in 2023

Get your flares on and head to the Suwon disco because Suwon Civic Stadium was built in 1971. There’s plenty of flair at Suwon these days too as it’s home to the ever-entertaining Suwon FC.  It has had some remodelling work done since then, however, with facelifts and the such like being carried out in 1986, 2007, and 2011.

2. Cheongju Civic Stadium - 1965

Cheongju Civic Stadium in 2023

The Swinging 60s gave South Korea the second-oldest current K League stadium - Cheongju Civic Stadium which, like many stadiums in Korea, has had a number of tenants. Lucky-Goldstar Football Club, who we know today as FC Seoul, lived there between 1987 and 1989. Its current inhabitants, Chungbuk Cheongju, have been there since 2009.

1. Busan Gudeok Stadium - 1928

The Gudeok in 2015

Way back in 1928, Korea wasn't divided into two countries like it is now. It was called "Chosun" and was still under Japanese colonial rule. But it was in this year that the Busan Gudeok Stadium was built, the oldest stadium in K League. It was originally called the Busan Municipal Stadium and is also one of only two surviving venues from the 1988 Olympics football tournament along with Jamsil. The others - Dongdaemun Stadium (Seoul), Daegu Stadium (Civic Stadium), Daejeon Hanbat Stadium, and Gwangju Stadium have since been demolished or repurposed. Nowadays, the Gudeok is the sometimes home of Busan IPark.