Gwangju
Gwangju FC is a South Korean professional football club founded in December 2010 and based in Gwangju. The club competes in the K League 1, the top tier of South Korean football, and plays its home matches at the 40,245-capacity Gwangju World Cup Stadium. Since joining the K League in 2011, Gwangju has experienced periods in both the first and second divisions, winning the K League 2 championship twice in 2019 and 2022. The club achieved its greatest success in 2023 under manager Lee Jung-hyo, finishing third in K League 1 and qualifying for the AFC Champions League Elite for the first time, where they became the first citizen club to reach the quarter-finals.
History
Overview
General information about the club
Gwangju FC was founded in December 2010, becoming the 16th club in the K League. Choi Man-hee was appointed as the first manager when the club joined the league in the 2011 season. The club has experienced fluctuations between South Korea's top two divisions throughout its history.
Most recent season and achievements
In the 2023 K League 1 season, Gwangju achieved its best-ever performance under the leadership of Lee Jung-hyo, finishing third in the league and earning a spot in the AFC Champions League Elite for the first time. In their debut continental campaign in the 2024-25 edition, Gwangju upset J1 League sides Yokohama F. Marinos 7-3 and Kawasaki Frontale 1-0, qualifying for the knockout stage as the only South Korean club.
History
Early years
After finishing their first season in 11th place in 2011, the club was relegated to the newly-formed second division K League Challenge (now K League 2) the following season after finishing in 15th place. In 2014, they were promoted back to the top tier for the 2015 season.
Current period
The club has oscillated between the first and second tiers in recent years, winning the second division championship in 2019 and 2022. Under Lee Jung-hyo's attacking playing style, the team has achieved unprecedented success in continental competition, becoming the first citizen club to reach the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League after defeating Vissel Kobe 3-2 on aggregate in the round of 16.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
K League 2 - Winners (2): 2019, 2022 - Runners-up (1): 2014
Traditional Rivals
Daegu FC
Gwangju's primary rivals are Daegu FC in a match dubbed the Moonlight Derby. The rivalry between the two clubs mirrors the strong baseball rivalry of Kia Tigers in Gwangju and Samsung Lions in Daegu, partially stemming from the stark difference in political leaning between the two cities.
Jeonnam Dragons
Gwangju also shares a rivalry with nearby Jeonnam Dragons in the Yellow Derby.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Nicknames
The club's main supporters' group is called Bitgoeul, the native Korean name for Gwangju.
Stadium
Gwangju FC plays its home games at the 40,245-capacity Gwangju World Cup Stadium. Between 2020 and 2024, they played at the Gwangju Football Stadium, but had to move back to the World Cup Stadium ahead of the 2025 season due to the small size of the field and lack of seating.