The R League, also known as the Korean Professional Football Reserve League, is the league for reserve teams of professional football clubs in South Korea.

History

The Korean Reserve League was started in 1990 with reserve teams of five K League clubs. It was not held for nine years after the inaugural season, but was relaunched in a new format in 2000. The participating teams were split into two or three group leagues, and high ranking teams of each league qualified for the playoffs to decide overall champions. It was renamed "R League" in 2009. Korean Police participated in the R League until 2012, although it was not a reserve team of a K League club. The R League was abolished in 2013 due to the foundation of the K League 2, which needed participating players, but was restarted in 2016. It was once again ceased in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On the one hand, the Korea Football Association (KFA) allowed reserve teams to join the K4 League in 2021, and so they could enter South Korean football league system.

Champions

Champions by season

Reserve League (1990)

Reserve League (2000–2005)

Reserve League (2006–2008)

R League (2009)

R League (2010–present)

Performance by club

K League's principle of official statistics is that final club succeeds to predecessor club's history & records.

Awards

Most Valuable Player

Top goalscorer

Top assist provider