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Professional football clubs Gimpo FC and Chungbuk Cheongju FC have received conditional approval in their licensing evaluation to participate in K League 1 for the 2027 season.
The Korea Professional Football League announced the results of the Club Licensing Committee's evaluation for K League 1 licenses for the 2027 season today (the 14th).
During the deliberation held on the 12th, the Club Licensing Committee approved the issuance of licenses for 28 out of the 29 applicant clubs, excluding Gimcheon Sangmu.
Among them, Gimpo and Chungbuk Cheongju were granted conditional approval.
In the case of Gimcheon Sangmu, their license for the 2027 K League 1 was not issued as their hometown agreement with Gimcheon City is set to expire at the end of the 2026 season.
Sangmu, whose relegation to K League 2 for the 2027 season has already been confirmed regardless of their performance in the current K League 1 season, is currently searching for a new home city.
It was confirmed that Gimpo's external audit reports, which have been submitted regularly every year, failed to reflect major financial matters, including embezzlement suspicions known to have arisen starting in 2023.
Consequently, the committee deemed that there are issues regarding the credibility of the existing audit reports and approved the license issuance under the condition that an external financial audit be re-conducted.
However, as the embezzlement suspicions are currently subject to judicial procedures and a special audit by Gimpo City, the committee did not make a final judgment on the embezzlement itself in this licensing review.
The league explained that separate follow-up measures could be taken depending on future court rulings and audit results.
For Chungbuk Cheongju, facility safety issues have emerged at their home stadium, Cheongju Stadium, resulting in the temporary closure of some spectator seats and entrances.
In response, the committee required the club to submit an implementation plan for facility renovation and repair works up to 30 days before the home opening match of the 2027 season.
Furthermore, the license was approved under the condition that the implementation of the facility improvements will be inspected at that time, and the approval for hosting home matches will be re-evaluated.
(Photo provided by Korea Professional Football League, Yonhap News)
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