2023 K League 1

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Hana 1Q
K League 1
Season2023
Dates25 February – 3 December 2023
ChampionsUlsan Hyundai
(4th title)
RelegatedSuwon Samsung Bluewings
Champions League EliteUlsan Hyundai
Pohang Steelers
Gwangju FC
Champions League TwoJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Matches174
Goals447 (2.57 per match)
Best PlayerKim Young-gwon
Top goalscorerJoo Min-kyu
Tiago Orobó
(17 goals each)
Biggest home winGwangju 5–0 Incheon
(18 March 2023)
Biggest away winSuwon FC 0–5 Jeju
(14 May 2023)
Highest scoringSeoul 7–2 Suwon FC
(12 July 2023)
Longest winning run6 matches
Ulsan Hyundai
Longest unbeaten run9 matches
Gwangju FC
Pohang Steelers
Longest winless run15 matches
Gangwon FC
Longest losing run5 matches
Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Highest attendance45,007
Seoul 3–0 Daegu
(8 April 2023)
← 2022
2024 →

The 2023 K League 1, also known as the Hana 1Q K League 1 for sponsorship reasons, was the 41st season of the top division of professional football in South Korea, and the eleventh season of the K League 1. Defending champions Ulsan Hyundai successfully defended their title.[1]

After progressing 33 regular rounds as ever, the league was divided into two groups, the top six and the bottom six, and each team played five matches against other teams in its group.

Teams

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Team changes

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Gwangju FC and Daejeon Hana Citizen (both promoted after absences of one and seven years, respectively) were promoted from the 2022 K League 2. Gimcheon Sangmu and Seongnam FC (both relegated after one and four years in the top flight, respectively) were relegated to 2023 K League 2.

Increase Promoted from K League 2 Decrease Relegated to K League 2

Locations

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class=notpageimage|
Locations of the 2023 K League 1 teams

The following twelve clubs competed in the K League 1 during the 2023 season.[2]

Team City/Province Abbreviation
Daegu FC Daegu Daegu
Daejeon Hana Citizen Daejeon Daejeon
Gangwon FC Gangwon Gangwon
Gwangju FC Gwangju Gwangju
Incheon United Incheon Incheon
Jeju United Jeju Jeju
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Jeonbuk Jeonbuk
Pohang Steelers Pohang Pohang
FC Seoul Seoul Seoul
Suwon Samsung Bluewings Suwon Suwon
Suwon FC Suwon Suwon FC
Ulsan Hyundai Ulsan Ulsan

Stadiums

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Jeju United Daegu FC Incheon United
Jeju World Cup Stadium DGB Daegu Bank Park Incheon Football Stadium
Capacity: 29,791 Capacity: 12,415 Capacity: 20,891
Pohang Steelers Suwon FC Daejeon Hana Citizen
Pohang Steel Yard Suwon Stadium Daejeon World Cup Stadium
Capacity: 17,443 Capacity: 11,808 Capacity: 40,903
FC Seoul Ulsan Hyundai Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Seoul World Cup Stadium Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium Suwon World Cup Stadium
Capacity: 66,704 Capacity: 44,102 Capacity: 44,031
Gwangju FC Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Gwangju Football Stadium Jeonju World Cup Stadium
Capacity: 10,007 Capacity: 42,477
Gangwon FC
Chuncheon Songam Leports Town Gangneung Stadium
Capacity: 20,000 Capacity: 22,333

Personnel and sponsoring

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Team Manager Main sponsor Kit manufacturer Other sponsor(s)
Daegu FC South Korea Choi Won-kwon Daegu Government Goal Studio DGB Daegu Bank
AJIN Industrial Co., Ltd.
Daejeon Hana Citizen South Korea Lee Min-sung Hana Financial Group Astore
Gangwon FC South Korea Yoon Jong-hwan Gangwon Provincial Government Fila High1 Resort
Gwangju FC South Korea Lee Jung-hyo Gwangju Government Kelme
Incheon United South Korea Jo Sung-hwan Incheon Government Macron Shinhan Bank
Incheon International Airport
Jeju United South Korea Nam Ki-il SK Energy Fila
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Romania Dan Petrescu Hyundai Motor Company Adidas
Pohang Steelers South Korea Kim Gi-dong POSCO Puma Pohang Government
FC Seoul South Korea An Ik-soo GS Group Pro-Specs
Suwon Samsung Bluewings South Korea Kim Byung-soo Cheil Worldwide Puma Samsung Electronics
Deutsch Motors
Suwon FC South Korea Kim Do-kyun Suwon Government Hummel
Ulsan Hyundai South Korea Hong Myung-bo Hyundai Heavy Industries Adidas Hyundai Oil Bank

Foreign players

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The number of allowed foreign players was kept strictly to six per team, including a guaranteed slot for a player from the Asian Football Confederation countries. Teams could field at most five foreign players at any given time, including at least one player from the AFC confederation.

North Korean player An Byong-jun, who played for Suwon Samsung Bluewings, was deemed as a native player by South Korean nationality law.

Players in bold were registered during the mid-season transfer window.

Team Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 AFC player Former player(s)
Daegu FC Brazil Césinha Brazil Edgar Brazil Lucas Barcellos Brazil Victor Bobsin Japan Keita Suzuki Brazil Daniel Penha
Brazil Marcos Serrato
Daejeon Hana Citizen Azerbaijan Anton Kryvotsyuk Brazil Leandro Ribeiro Brazil Tiago Orobó Latvia Vladislavs Gutkovskis Japan Masatoshi Ishida
Gangwon FC Brazil Galego Brazil Vitor Gabriel Brazil Welinton Júnior Brazil Yago Cariello Montenegro Marko Tući Uzbekistan Ikromjon Alibaev Montenegro Dino Islamović
Sweden Kevin Höög Jansson
Gwangju FC Albania Jasir Asani Brazil Thomás Bedinelli Georgia (country) Beka Mikeltadze Netherlands Timo Letschert Australia Aaron Calver Brazil Sandro Lima
Incheon United Brazil Hernandes Democratic Republic of the Congo Paul-José M'Poku Guinea-Bissau Gerso Fernandes Montenegro Stefan Mugoša Australia Harrison Delbridge
Jeju United Brazil Reis Brazil Yuri Sweden Jonathan Ring
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Brazil André Luis Brazil Gustavo Brazil Rafael Silva Czech Republic Tomáš Petrášek Ghana Nana Boateng Japan Jun Amano
Pohang Steelers Brazil Oberdan Brazil Wanderson Brazil Zeca Australia Alex Grant
FC Seoul Brazil Willyan Norway Bjørn Maars Johnsen Russia Stanislav Iljutcenko Serbia Aleksandar Paločević Spain Osmar Syria Hosam Aiesh
Suwon Samsung Bluewings Brazil Rodrigo Bassani Brazil Werik Popó Ghana Boadu Maxwell Acosty Netherlands Dave Bulthuis Serbia Fejsal Mulić Japan Kazuki Kozuka
Suwon FC Brazil Hugo Gomes Brazil Ricardo Lopes Brazil Walterson Australia Lachlan Jackson Brazil Luan Ferreira
Brazil Murilo Henrique
South Africa Lars Veldwijk
Ulsan Hyundai Georgia (country) Valeri Qazaishvili Hungary Martin Ádám Sweden Darijan Bojanić Sweden Gustav Ludwigson Japan Ataru Esaka

League table

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[a]
1 Ulsan Hyundai (C) 38 23 7 8 63 42 +21 76 Qualification for Champions League Elite league stage[b]
2 Pohang Steelers 38 16 16 6 53 40 +13 64
3 Gwangju FC 38 16 11 11 47 35 +12 59
4 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 38 16 9 13 45 35 +10 57 Qualification for Champions League Two group stage
5 Incheon United 38 14 14 10 46 42 +4 56
6 Daegu FC 38 13 14 11 42 43 −1 53
7 FC Seoul 38 14 13 11 63 49 +14 55
8 Daejeon Hana Citizen 38 12 15 11 56 58 −2 51
9 Jeju United 38 10 11 17 43 49 −6 41
10 Gangwon FC (O) 38 6 16 16 30 41 −11 34 Qualification for relegation play-offs
11 Suwon FC (O) 38 8 9 21 44 76 −32 33
12 Suwon Samsung Bluewings (R) 38 8 9 21 35 57 −22 33 Relegation to K League 2
Source: Soccerway, K League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference; 4) Wins; 5) Head-to-head points
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Teams played each other three times (33 matches), before the league was split into two groups, the top six and the bottom six.
  2. ^ Since second-placed team Pohang Steelers qualified for the Champions League Elite as the Korean FA Cup champions, the spot given to the second-placed team was passed to the third-placed team.[3]

Positions by matchday

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  Leader, and qualification for Champions League Elite league stage
  Qualification for Champions League Elite league stage
  Qualification for Champions League 2 group stage
  Qualification for relegation play-offs
  Relegation to K League 2

Round 1–33

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Team ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233
Ulsan Hyundai331111111111111111111111111111111
Pohang Steelers112432232334444422222222222222222
Gwangju FC558555555678998768578865555333333
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors99688797910107877875844444333456574
Daegu FC8896681088789666586785557698764645
Incheon United975779891099101010101099999998876677766
FC Seoul323243424222222333333333444545457
Daejeon Hana Citizen244324343443555657666676767888888
Jeju United66101012107107555333244457789989999999
Suwon FC610799666686678991010101010101010101010101010101010
Gangwon FC121212111011111111111111111111111111111111111112121112121211111111
Suwon Samsung Bluewings111011121112121212121212121212121212121212121211111211111112121212
Source: K League

Round 34–38

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Source: K League

Results

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Matches 1–22

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Teams played each other twice, once at home, once away.[4]

Home \ Away DGU DHC GWN GJU ICU JJU JHM PHS SEL SSB SWN USH
Daegu FC — 1–0 0–0 3–4 2–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–0 1–1 3–1 0–3
Daejeon Hana Citizen 0–1 — 2–0 1–1 1–3 0–3 2–2 0–0 3–2 2–2 2–1 2–1
Gangwon FC 1–1 1–2 — 1–1 0–2 0–1 1–2 0–0 3–2 0–2 1–2 0–1
Gwangju FC 0–2 0–0 0–0 — 5–0 0–1 2–0 4–2 0–2 2–1 2–0 0–1
Incheon United 0–0 3–3 1–0 1–1 — 1–0 0–0 0–1 1–1 0–1 2–2 0–1
Jeju United 1–2 1–1 2–2 0–0 2–0 — 0–2 2–1 1–2 2–1 0–0 1–3
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1–0 1–2 0–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 — 1–2 2–1 1–1 3–1 2–0
Pohang Steelers 3–2 3–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–1 1–0 — 1–1 3–1 1–0 0–1
FC Seoul 3–0 0–0 1–0 3–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 — 3–1 7–2 1–2
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 0–1 1–3 1–1 0–1 0–0 2–3 0–3 1–1 0–1 — 1–2 2–3
Suwon FC 1–1 5–3 2–0 0–2 2–2 0–5 1–0 1–2 0–3 2–0 — 1–3
Ulsan Hyundai 3–1 3–3 1–0 2–1 1–2 5–1 2–1 2–2 3–2 2–1 3–0 —
Source: K League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matches 23–33

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Teams played each other once, either at home or away.

Home \ Away DGU DHC GWN GJU ICU JJU JHM PHS SEL SSB SWN USH
Daegu FC — — 1–0 — — 1–0 — 0–0 — — 2–2 0–0
Daejeon Hana Citizen 1–0 — — — — 1–0 — — 4–3 3–1 0–1 —
Gangwon FC — 1–1 — — 1–1 — — 1–1 1–1 1–2 — 2–0
Gwangju FC 1–1 3–0 1–0 — — — 0–1 — — 4–0 — —
Incheon United 3–1 2–0 — 2–2 — 2–1 — 0–2 — 2–0 — —
Jeju United — — 1–1 1–2 — — 0–0 — 1–3 — 3–0 —
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1–3 1–1 1–3 — 2–0 — — — — 1–1 1–0 —
Pohang Steelers — 4–3 — 1–1 — 4–2 2–1 — — — 2–0 0–0
FC Seoul 2–2 — — 0–1 0–1 — 0–2 2–2 — — — 2–2
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 0–1 — — — — 1–0 — 1–0 0–1 — 0–2 3–1
Suwon FC — — 1–1 0–1 1–2 — — — 1–1 — — 2–3
Ulsan Hyundai — 1–1 — 0–2 0–0 2–1 1–0 — — — — —
Source: K League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matches 34–38

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Teams played each other once, either at home or away.

Final A

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Home \ Away DGU GJU ICU JHM PHS USH
Daegu FC — 1–1 2–1 1–2 — —
Gwangju FC — — 0–2 — 0–0 1–0
Incheon United — — — 1–1 — 3–1
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors — 2–0 — — 1–1 —
Pohang Steelers 1–0 — 1–1 — — —
Ulsan Hyundai 2–0 — — 1–0 3–2 —
Source: K League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Final B

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Home \ Away DHC GWN JJU SEL SSB SWN
Daejeon Hana Citizen — 0–1 — 2–2 — 1–1
Gangwon FC — — 1–1 — — 2–0
Jeju United 0–2 — — 0–0 2–0 —
FC Seoul — 2–1 — — 0–1 —
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2–2 0–0 — — — —
Suwon FC — — 1–1 3–4 2–3 —
Source: K League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Relegation play-offs

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The tenth-placed team and the eleventh-placed team played against the play-offs winners and the runners-up of the K League 2, respectively, in the relegation play-offs.

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Gimpo FC 1–2 Gangwon FC 0–0 1–2
Busan IPark 4–6 Suwon FC 2–1 2–5 (a.e.t.)
Gimpo FC0–0Gangwon FC
Report
Attendance: 3,736
Referee: Jeong Dong-sik
Gangwon FC2–1Gimpo FC
Vitor Gabriel 51', 76' Report Cho Sung-gwon 59'
Attendance: 10,130
Referee: Lee Dong-jun

Gangwon FC won 2–1 on aggregate and therefore both clubs remain in their respective leagues.

Busan IPark2–1Suwon FC
Bruno Lamas 85' (pen.), 90+9' (pen.) Report Jang Jae-woong 43'
Attendance: 4,047
Referee: Ko Hyung-jin
Suwon FC5–2 (a.e.t.)Busan IPark
 Report
Attendance: 6,987

Suwon FC won 6–4 on aggregate and therefore both clubs remain in their respective leagues.

Statistics

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Top goalscorers

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Joo Min-kyu, who appeared in less time than Tiago Orobó, won the top goalscorer award.[5]

Rank Player[6] Team Goals
1 South Korea Joo Min-kyu Ulsan Hyundai 17
Brazil Tiago Orobó Daejeon Hana Citizen
3 Brazil Zeca Pohang Steelers 12
South Korea Na Sang-ho FC Seoul
5 Georgia (country) Valeri Qazaishvili Ulsan Hyundai 11
6 Brazil Yuri Jeju United 10
South Korea Lee Seung-woo Suwon FC
8 South Africa Lars Veldwijk Suwon FC 9
Brazil Edgar Daegu FC
South Korea Go Jae-hyeon Daegu FC

Top assist providers

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Rank Player[6] Team Assists
1 South Korea Baek Sung-dong Pohang Steelers 8
2 Brazil Leandro Ribeiro Daejeon Hana Citizen 7
South Korea Kim Seung-dae Pohang Steelers
Brazil Tiago Orobó Daejeon Hana Citizen
Brazil Zeca Pohang Steelers
South Korea Doo Hyeon-seok Gwangju FC
7 South Korea Kim In-kyun Daejeon Hana Citizen 6
South Korea Hong Chul Daegu FC
Guinea-Bissau Gerso Fernandes Incheon United
10 7 Players 5

Hat-tricks

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Player For Against Result Date
Albania Jasir Asani Gwangju FC Incheon United 5–0 23 March 2023
Brazil Tiago Orobó Daejeon Hana Citizen Pohang Steelers 3–4 20 August 2023

Awards

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Weekly awards

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Monthly awards

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Month Player of the Month Young Player of the Month Goal of the Month
Player Club Player Club Player Club
February/March South Korea Joo Min-kyu Ulsan South Korea Jeong Ho-yeon Gwangju South Korea Lee Jin-hyun Daejeon
April South Korea Na Sang-ho Seoul South Korea Cheon Seong-hoon Incheon South Korea Na Sang-ho Seoul
May South Korea Paik Seung-ho Jeonbuk South Korea Hwang Jae-won Daegu South Korea Lee Ki-je Suwon
June Georgia (country) Valeri Qazaishvili Ulsan South Korea Lee Ho-jae Pohang South Korea Joo Min-kyu Ulsan
July South Korea Na Sang-ho Seoul South Korea Kim Ju-chan Suwon South Korea Kim Ju-chan Suwon
August South Korea Lee Seung-woo Suwon FC South Korea Eom Ji-sung Gwangju Brazil Tiago Orobó Daejeon
September Brazil Zeca Pohang South Korea Heo Yool Gwangju Georgia (country) Beka Mikeltadze Gwangju
October–December South Korea Seol Young-woo Ulsan South Korea Kim Ju-chan Suwon South Korea Ki Sung-yueng Seoul
Month Manager of the Month Save of the Month
Manager Club Div. Player Club
February/March South Korea Hong Myung-bo Ulsan 1 South Korea Kim Kyeong-min Gwangju
April South Korea Ko Jeong-woon Gimpo 2 South Korea Lee Chang-geun Daejeon
May South Korea Nam Ki-il Jeju 1 South Korea Hwang In-jae Pohang
June South Korea Lee Jung-hyo Gwangju 1 South Korea Lee Chang-geun Daejeon
July South Korea Jo Sung-hwan Incheon 1 South Korea Lee Chang-geun Daejeon
August South Korea Choi Yun-kyum Chungbuk Cheongju 2 South Korea Jo Hyeon-woo Ulsan
September South Korea Park Jin-sub Busan 2 South Korea Jo Hyeon-woo Ulsan
October–December South Korea Chung Jung-yong Gimcheon 2 South Korea Lee Chang-geun Daejeon

Annual awards

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The 2023 K League Awards was held on 4 December 2023.[7]

Award Winner Club
Most Valuable Player South Korea Kim Young-gwon Ulsan Hyundai
Young Player of the Year South Korea Jeong Ho-yeon Gwangju FC
Top goalscorer South Korea Joo Min-kyu Ulsan Hyundai
Top assist provider South Korea Baek Sung-dong Pohang Steelers
Manager of the Year South Korea Hong Myung-bo Ulsan Hyundai
Position Best XI
Goalkeeper South Korea Jo Hyeon-woo (Ulsan)
Defenders South Korea Seol Young-woo
(Ulsan) 		Australia Alex Grant
(Pohang) 		South Korea Kim Young-gwon
(Ulsan) 		Brazil Wanderson
(Pohang)
Midfielders South Korea Um Won-sang
(Ulsan) 		South Korea Lee Soon-min
(Gwangju) 		Brazil Oberdan
(Pohang) 		Guinea-Bissau Gerso Fernandes
(Incheon)
Forwards Brazil Zeca (Pohang) South Korea Joo Min-kyu (Ulsan)

Attendance

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Attendants who entered with free ticket are not counted.

Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
1 FC Seoul 430,029 45,007 10,236 22,663 +157.9%†
2 Ulsan Hyundai 345,990 30,756 5,318 18,210 +108.3%†
3 Daejeon Hana Citizen 244,274 20,592 8,377 12,857 +466.4%†
4 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 238,759 27,797 5,067 12,566 +108.8%†
5 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 224,177 24,932 4,727 11,799 +101.7%†
6 Daegu FC 208,340 12,334 6,943 10,965 +71.0%†
7 Incheon United 169,826 15,738 5,076 8,938 +69.9%†
8 Pohang Steelers 164,295 14,640 3,080 8,647 +81.1%†
9 Gangwon FC 122,772 11,084 2,581 6,462 +198.5%†
10 Jeju United 114,015 10,041 3,280 6,001 +90.4%†
11 Suwon FC 98,580 9,221 1,605 5,188 +64.1%†
12 Gwangju FC 86,090 7,357 1,871 4,831 +269.6%†
League total 2,447,147 45,007 1,605 10,733 +122.7%†

Updated to games played on 1 December 2023
Source: K League
Notes:
† Teams that played previous season in K League 2.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Defending champions to take on runners-up to kick off 2023 K League football season". Yonhap News Agency. 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  2. ^ "K League Official Club Profiles Page".
  3. ^ 광주FC, 아시아 챔피언스리그 엘리트(ACLE) 진출 확정 (in Korean). Gwangju FC. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  4. ^ "K League Fixtures and Results". K League. 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  5. ^ “사람 마음이 간사한 것 같다”…‘득점왕’ 차지한 주민규의 속마음. Goal.com (in Korean). 5 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  6. ^ a b "K LEAGUE / Record".
  7. ^ 'K리그 MVP의 눈물' 김영권 "머리가 하얘졌다"+홍명보 '최고 감독'... K리그 빛낸 별들 모두 가려졌다 '2023 K리그 대상 시상식' (종합). Naver.com (in Korean). Starnews Korea. 4 December 2023.
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