“Relegated Regardless of Standing”… Gimcheon Secures At Least 11th Place but Still Goes Down; Relegation Playoff Confirmed

Gimcheon drew 1-1 with Gwangju, securing at least 11th place. Gimcheon's relegation stands regardless of standing, and what this draw confirmed is the holding of the relegation playoff.

Translated from Korean with AI assistance. Read the original. Sources and original publication dates are retained.

Three-Line Summary

Gimcheon drew 1-1 in an away match at Gwangju on Oct. 31, reaching 35 points, 13 points ahead of Gwangju (22 points).
Even if Gwangju win all four remaining matches, they would reach only 34 points, so Gimcheon has secured at least 11th place.
Gimcheon will be relegated regardless of final standing due to the end of its hometown agreement, and will not take part in the relegation playoffs.

On Oct. 27, the league decided that if Gimcheon is not last, the K League 2 PO will be a single-match decider. The 1-1 draw in the Oct. 31 away match at Gwangju met that condition. However, the explanation that “Gimcheon avoids automatic relegation and goes to the PO” was wrong. Gimcheon will be relegated no matter where it finishes, and it is not eligible for the relegation playoff.

Gwangju 1-1 Gimcheon: The 13-Point Gap Behind “At Least 11th Place”

Gimcheon drew 1-1 in an away match at Gwangju in Round 34 of the K League 1 on Oct. 31. Yonhap News According to the standings after the match, Gimcheon were on 35 points in 10th place, while Gwangju were 12th on 22 points. Newspim reports that Gwangju can earn at most 12 points from their remaining four matches (as of Oct. 31, 2026, 19:00).

Even if Gwangju win four straight, they would finish on 22+12=34 points, while Gimcheon would stay on 35 points even if it lost all its remaining matches. With a one-point margin, Gimcheon cannot fall below Gwangju. Sports Chosun summarized this as securing at least 11th place and confirming the relegation playoff.

Why Gimcheon Is Relegated Regardless of Standing

On Oct. 27, the Korea Professional Football League said in an official announcement that “Gimcheon Sangmu will be relegated regardless of its final K League 1 standing, because its hometown agreement with Gimcheon City ends this year.”

The significance of this draw is not Gimcheon's survival but the fulfillment of the conditions for holding the relegation playoff. “Gimcheon will be regardless of standing relegated, and the relegation playoff will be contested by the team finishing 12th in the final K League 1 standings, not by Gimcheon.”

Relegation Playoff Matchup: K League 1 12th Place vs. K League 2 PO Loser

Based on the league's announcement, the relegation playoff matchup is the final 12th-place K League 1 team versus the loser of the K League 2 PO. In its Oct. 31 article, Newspim described Gwangju as facing a “direct relegation crisis.” However, league regulations stipulate that if Gimcheon is not last, the final 12th-place team will go to the relegation playoff.

Rank	Club	Points	34-Match Record
8	FC Anyang	46	11 wins, 13 draws, 10 losses
9	Pohang Steelers	43	11 wins, 10 draws, 13 losses
10	Gimcheon Sangmu	35	5 wins, 20 draws, 9 losses
11	Bucheon FC 1995	32	7 wins, 11 draws, 16 losses
12	Gwangju FC	22	3 wins, 13 draws, 18 losses

The standings are the league's official figures as of Nov. 4, 2026, and the update time was not disclosed. Applying the maximum 12 points from the remaining four matches, Gwangju could rise to 34 points, surpassing Bucheon's current 32 points, so who will finish 12th is still mathematically undecided.

Relegation Playoff Schedule: K League 2 Semi-PO on Dec. 2, PO on Dec. 5

The K League 2 semi-PO will be held on Dec. 2 at 19:00, with the regular-season 3rd vs. 6th and 4th vs. 5th matchups. The PO will be held on Dec. 5 at 16:30. Because Gimcheon is not last, the PO will be a single-match decider; the winner will be promoted, and the loser will go to the relegation playoff.

What remains unsettled is the date of the relegation playoff. In its Oct. 27 announcement, the league said it would publish the detailed schedule later, and this review did not find a confirmed notice. The final 12th-place team will be determined by the remaining four K League 1 matches, and the opponent will be decided in the K League 2 PO on Dec. 5.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why is Gimcheon being relegated?

According to the league's Oct. 27 announcement, Gimcheon will be relegated regardless of its final K League 1 standing because its hometown agreement with Gimcheon City ends this year. This decision is unrelated to on-field performance.

Q. Will Gimcheon also take part in the relegation playoff?

No. The relegation playoff will be contested by the final 12th-place K League 1 team and the loser of the K League 2 PO, and Gimcheon is not eligible to participate.

Q. When is the relegation playoff scheduled?

The league said it would announce detailed dates later, and this review could not confirm a final date. The K League 2 semi-PO comes first on Dec. 2, and the PO on Dec. 5.

Related Official Sites

Korea Professional Football League official competition regulations — Check promotion/relegation and playoff operating rules
K League official Gimcheon club information and standings — Gimcheon's latest standings and season record
Gwangju FC official website — Check official notices from Gwangju FC

Representative image · File photo · Not a photo from the current match in the article · Photo=Wikimedia Commons (Explicit), CC BY-SA 4.0