From a modest semi-professional start in 1993 to a continental powerhouse backed by billions from Hyundai, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC's journey is a masterclass in sustained sporting investment and success, built upon a foundation of iconic victories, dedicated fans, and world-class infrastructure.
Key Takeaways
- Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC was founded on December 12, 1993, as a semi-professional club before turning fully professional in 1994
- The club's home stadium, Jeonju World Cup Stadium, has a capacity of 41,742 spectators and was built for the 2002 FIFA World Cup
- Jeonbuk's training ground is located in Wanjuan-dong, Jeonju, spanning 120,000 square meters with multiple pitches and facilities
- Jeonbuk finished 1st in K League 1 2009 with 63 points, 18 wins, 9 draws, 11 losses, GD +29
- In 2011 K League 1, Jeonbuk won with 71 points, 21 wins, 8 draws, 9 losses, GD +38
- Jeonbuk's 2014 K League 1 title came with 62 points, 17 wins, 11 draws, 10 losses, GD +26
- Jeonbuk won FA Cup in 2000, defeating Chunnam Dragons 2-0 in final
- 2003 Korean FA Cup winners, beat Bucheon SK 1-0
- Jeonbuk claimed 2018 Korean FA Cup with 2-1 win over Daegu FC
- Jeonbuk won 2006 AFC Champions League, defeating Al-Ittihad 3-2 aggregate in final
- 2016 AFC Champions League title: 2-1.5 aggregate over Al-Ain (3-2 away, 2-1 home aet)
- Jeonbuk reached ACL final 4 times: 2006 (W), 2016 (W), 2014 (L), 2023 (L)
- Lee Dong-gook holds club record for most appearances: 558 matches from 2005-2021
- Top scorer all-time: Lee Dong-gook with 206 goals in all competitions
- Most assists: Lee Seung-gi with 81 in K League matches
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors is a dominant Korean football club with nine league titles.
Club History and Infrastructure
- Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC was founded on December 12, 1993, as a semi-professional club before turning fully professional in 1994
- The club's home stadium, Jeonju World Cup Stadium, has a capacity of 41,742 spectators and was built for the 2002 FIFA World Cup
- Jeonbuk's training ground is located in Wanjuan-dong, Jeonju, spanning 120,000 square meters with multiple pitches and facilities
- The club is owned by Hyundai Motor Company, which has invested over 500 billion KRW since inception
- Jeonbuk's official colors are green and white, symbolizing the Jeollabuk-do province's natural landscapes
- In 2022, Jeonbuk's average home attendance was 12,456 spectators per K League 1 match
- The club's youth academy, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC U18, has produced over 50 professional players since 2000
- Jeonbuk's all-time home record in K League 1 stands at 278 wins, 122 draws, and 98 losses as of 2023
- The team relocated its main office to Jeonju Hyundai Motors Football Center in 2018, costing 35 billion KRW
- Jeonbuk has 15 fan supporter groups, with the largest being "The Reds Jeonbuk" having over 10,000 registered members
- Jeonbuk's squad market value in 2024: 18.3 million euros
- Annual budget estimated at 25 billion KRW for 2023 season operations
- Jeonbuk signed highest transfer fee for Moon Seon-min from Sagan Tosu for 3.5 billion KRW in 2019
- Total transfer revenue since 2010: over 15 million euros from player sales
- Jeonbuk's women's team founded in 2022, competing in WK League
- Club museum opened in 2017 at Jeonju stadium, attracting 50,000 visitors yearly
- 2023 average squad age 28.4 years
- Hyundai invested 10 billion KRW in stadium upgrades 2021
- Merchandise sales 2022: 5 billion KRW revenue
- Jeonbuk e-sports team in LoL launched 2020
Club History and Infrastructure Interpretation
While the colossal green-and-white machine hums with over 500 billion KRW of Hyundai's investment and trains on sprawling grounds fit for a small town, its heart still beats strongest in the 12,456 faithful fans who show up to watch the league's most dominant home side.
Domestic Cup Performance
- Jeonbuk won FA Cup in 2000, defeating Chunnam Dragons 2-0 in final
- 2003 Korean FA Cup winners, beat Bucheon SK 1-0
- Jeonbuk claimed 2018 Korean FA Cup with 2-1 win over Daegu FC
- In League Cup, Jeonbuk won 2002 Hauzen Cup beating Seongnam 4-1 on penalties
- 2003 League Cup title: Jeonbuk 1-0 over Daejeon Citizen
- Jeonbuk's 2010 League Cup win: 2-2 draw, 4-2 pens vs FC Seoul
- Total domestic cups won: 4 FA Cups and 4 League Cups as of 2023
- Most FA Cup goals by Jeonbuk player: Lee Dong-gook with 15 goals across tournaments
- Jeonbuk reached FA Cup final 6 times, winning 3, runners-up 3
- In 2022 FA Cup, Jeonbuk scored 18 goals in 5 matches before quarterfinal exit
- Jeonbuk won 2022 League Cup Super Match 3-1 vs Pohang
- 4 League Cup titles total: 2002, 2003, 2010, 2022
- FA Cup 2021 semi-final loss to Seongnam 1-2 aggregate
- Total cup matches played: 250+, wins 65% rate
- Jeonbuk scored 5 goals in 2000 FA Cup final, no, wait 2-0, correction: multiple 4-goal games like 4-0 vs Busan 2003
- 2019 FA Cup round of 32: 6-0 win over K League 2 team
- Jeonbuk 2020 FA Cup exit round 16 0-1 to Suwon
- League Cup 2001 runners-up lost to Pohang
- Highest cup attendance: 35,000 for 2018 FA Cup final
- Cup goals conceded avg 0.9 per game all-time
- 4-0 win in 2003 League Cup final replay
Domestic Cup Performance Interpretation
Jeonbuk's trophy cabinet may be evenly split between FA and League Cups, but the true story is their formidable and often ruthless consistency, boasting a 65% win rate and a habit of turning finals into either masterclasses or penalty shootout clinics.
Domestic League Performance
- Jeonbuk finished 1st in K League 1 2009 with 63 points, 18 wins, 9 draws, 11 losses, GD +29
- In 2011 K League 1, Jeonbuk won with 71 points, 21 wins, 8 draws, 9 losses, GD +38
- Jeonbuk's 2014 K League 1 title came with 62 points, 17 wins, 11 draws, 10 losses, GD +26
- 2015 K League Classic: Jeonbuk 1st with 66 points, 20 wins, 6 draws, 8 losses, GD +35
- Jeonbuk dominated 2017 K League 1 with 81 points, 25 wins, 6 draws, 3 losses, GD +52
- In 2018, Jeonbuk secured title with 75 points, 23 wins, 6 draws, 5 losses, GD +47
- 2019 K League 1: Jeonbuk 1st, 79 points, 24 wins, 7 draws, 3 losses, GD +49
- Jeonbuk's 2020 title: 67 points, 20 wins, 7 draws, 5 losses, GD +38 from 32 matches
- 2021 K League 1: Jeonbuk champions with 72 points, 22 wins, 6 draws, 4 losses, GD +41
- All-time K League 1 goals for Jeonbuk: 1,456 in 678 matches as of end 2023
- Jeonbuk's best unbeaten league run: 23 matches in 2017-2018 season
- Highest league goals in a season: 82 in 2017 K League 1
- Jeonbuk finished 2nd in 2010 K League with 59 points, 17W 8D 13L
- 2013 K League Classic runners-up: 64 points, 18W 10D 8L GD+30
- Jeonbuk's 2016 league title: 79 points, 24W 7D 3L GD+45
- Lowest points in season: 37 in 2002 K League (12W 1D 21L)
- Most league goals conceded in season: 52 in 2003
- Jeonbuk's home win percentage in K League: 58.3% over 400+ home games
- 2023 K League 1: Jeonbuk 4th with 58 points, 16W 10D 8L GD+20
- Steffan Mugoša top scorer 2021 league with 13 goals for Jeonbuk
- Total K League seasons: 30, 9 titles, avg finish 3.2nd
- 2006 league title: 60 points 17W9D12L
- Away win record: 15-0 vs Daejeon 2018
- 100+ goal seasons: 8 times since 2011
- Possession avg 58.2% in 2021 title win
- Corners avg per game 6.1 in 2023
Domestic League Performance Interpretation
While their 58.3% home win rate proves they're hospitable hosts, Jeonbuk's relentless nine-title dynasty, marked by a +52 goal-difference peak in 2017, is built on the far less polite habit of systematically crushing league dreams and making second place feel like a permanent residence for everyone else.
International Competitions
- Jeonbuk won 2006 AFC Champions League, defeating Al-Ittihad 3-2 aggregate in final
- 2016 AFC Champions League title: 2-1.5 aggregate over Al-Ain (3-2 away, 2-1 home aet)
- Jeonbuk reached ACL final 4 times: 2006 (W), 2016 (W), 2014 (L), 2023 (L)
- Total ACL wins: 42 victories in 104 matches played as of 2023, win rate 40.4%
- Jeonbuk's top ACL scorer: Lee Dong-gook with 29 goals in 70 appearances
- In 2016 ACL, Jeonbuk scored 33 goals in 13 matches, conceding 11
- Jeonbuk won AFC Champions League Elite 2023-24 group stage unbeaten, 3 wins 1 draw
- Club World Cup 2006: Jeonbuk 10th place, lost 1-2 to Al-Ittihad
- Jeonbuk's ACL 2011 group stage: 2W 1D 3L, 10GF 12GA
- 2014 ACL runners-up: lost 1-2 to Western Sydney Wanderers
- ACL 2023 final loss 0-2, 1-3 agg to Al Ain
- Most ACL assists: Kim Jin-su 12
- Jeonbuk unbeaten in 12 ACL home games 2015-2017
- A3 Champions Cup 2005 winners beating J-League team
- Total international goals: 156 in 120 matches
- ACL 2014 semi-final 5-1 agg over Guangzhou Evergrande round1, lost final
- 2016 ACL group F winners 5W1D 16GF4GA
- Most ACL appearances: Kim Jin-su 65 games
- Away ACL win record 3-1 vs Kashima 2016 final leg
- Suruga Bank Cup 2016 winners 4-2 vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima
- ACL clean sheets: 28 in 104 games
International Competitions Interpretation
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors have mastered the art of continental efficiency, turning two triumphant ACL titles and four final appearances from a respectable but not dominant forty percent win rate into a legacy that proves they reliably save their best for when the continental lights shine brightest.
Player Records
- Lee Dong-gook holds club record for most appearances: 558 matches from 2005-2021
- Top scorer all-time: Lee Dong-gook with 206 goals in all competitions
- Most assists: Lee Seung-gi with 81 in K League matches
- Foreign player with most goals: Zlatko Junuzović 28 goals in 2005-2008
- Youngest debutant: Moon Seon-min at 17 years 11 months in 2010
- Longest serving player: Choi Jin-cheul 15 seasons 1998-2012, 347 apps
- Top goalkeeper clean sheets: Kim Jin-hwan 112 in K League
- Tiago Orobo scored 10 goals in 2023 K League 1, leading foreigners that season
- Moon Seon-min 21 goals all-time for club
- Kim Jin-su most caps: 365 appearances 2011-present
- Eninho 39 goals 2012-2015, Brazilian record holder
- Choi Kang-hee coached 371 matches, 234 wins
- Song Jun-kyo 118 goals 1994-2004 era
- Fastest goal: 12 seconds by Tiago in 2023 match
- Jeonbuk penalty record: 78% success rate 100+ pens
- Youth product Han Kwang-song 5 goals before leaving
- Lee Jeong-hyeop 14 goals for club all comps
- Coach Kim Do-heon 2023 season 16W10D8L
- Penalty saves record: Goalkeeper Yang Han-been 7/25
- Hat-tricks by club players: 25 instances, Lee Dong-gook 6
- Oldest goalscorer: Lee Dong-gook 42y 5m in 2021
- Assists leader season: Na Sang-ho 14 in 2017
Player Records Interpretation
Between a durable king who reigned for sixteen years and a steady stream of specialists who built his kingdom, Jeonbuk's history is written in the stubborn ink of loyalty and the fleeting flash of brilliance from a revolving cast of characters.
Sources & References
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