Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA South Korean professional football club based in Jeonju and one of Asia's most successful club sides.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC is a professional association football club based in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, South Korea. The team competes in K League 1, the country's highest professional division, and plays its home matches at Jeonju World Cup Stadium. It is owned and supported by Hyundai Motor Company and is commonly identified by its green colors and the nickname Jeonbuk. The club's principal supporters' group is the Mad Green Boys, who traditionally occupy the stadium's North Stand. The present club traces its institutional history to Chonbuk Dinos, established by Hyundai Motor Company on 12 December 1994 after the collapse of Chonbuk Buffalo. An earlier organization, Wansan Pumas, had been formed in January 1993 under founder Oh Hyung-keun, but it failed financially before entering the K League. It was reorganized with support from local alcohol producer Bobae Ltd. as Chonbuk Buffalo, which joined the league in 1994 but dissolved after that season. The K League treats Chonbuk Buffalo and Chonbuk Dinos as separate clubs, making the Hyundai-backed 1994 formation the relevant origin of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. For much of its early existence, Jeonbuk was a mid-table side rather than a regular title contender. Its transformation began when Choi Kang-hee became manager in July 2005. The club won the Korean FA Cup later that year and then achieved its first major continental breakthrough in 2006 by winning the AFC Champions League. Jeonbuk defeated Al-Karamah of Syria in the final and subsequently represented Asia at the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup. Jeonbuk won its first K League championship in 2009 and added another title in 2011. With sustained investment from Hyundai Motor Company, the club opened the Yulsori Clubhouse training center in Wanju County in 2013. The facility and the club's recruitment and coaching structure helped establish Jeonbuk as the dominant force in South Korean football. Domestic championships followed in 2014 and 2015, while the club won its second AFC Champions League in 2016 by overcoming Al-Ain of the United Arab Emirates. The 2016 season also produced the club's most serious institutional crisis. A club scout was convicted of bribing referees, leading to a league fine and a nine-point deduction. The penalty contributed to FC Seoul winning the domestic title, and Jeonbuk was later excluded from the 2017 AFC Champions League. The club nevertheless recovered strongly, winning five consecutive K League titles from 2017 through 2021. It also completed its first domestic double in 2020 by winning both the league and the Korean FA Cup. Jeonbuk's domestic dominance weakened after 2021. Ulsan HD ended the title streak in 2022, although Jeonbuk won that year's Korea Cup. The club finished fourth in 2023 and tenth in 2024, its lowest league position since 2008, and had to survive a promotion-relegation playoff against Seoul E-Land. In December 2024, the club appointed Uruguayan manager Gus Poyet. Under his leadership, Jeonbuk won the 2025 K League 1 title with five matches remaining, extending its record to ten league championships, and won the 2025 Korea Cup for a second domestic double. Poyet resigned shortly afterward. Chung Jung-yong subsequently led the club to the 2026 K League Super Cup. Jeonbuk's major sporting identity is built around domestic consistency, continental competitiveness, Hyundai-backed infrastructure and a large national following. Its most consequential contemporary rivalry is the Hyundai Derby with Ulsan HD, while FC Seoul and Suwon Samsung Bluewings represent important rivalries linked to the commercial and sporting prominence of their parent groups. The club has won the AFC Champions League twice, the K League title ten times and the Korea Cup six times.
History
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors developed from a turbulent regional football history. Wansan Pumas was established in January 1993 under Oh Hyung-keun, but inadequate financing prevented the club from entering the K League. Local company Bobae Ltd. then supported a reorganization under the name Chonbuk Buffalo. The renamed club entered the professional league in 1994 but suffered further financial problems and dissolved after the season. Hyundai Motor Company, which was developing its Jeonju manufacturing presence during South Korea's preparations to host the 2002 FIFA World Cup, acquired the Buffalo players and formed Chonbuk Dinos on 12 December 1994. The K League officially regards Chonbuk Buffalo and Chonbuk Dinos as separate clubs. Chonbuk Dinos later adopted the Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors name, establishing the Hyundai-backed institution that competes today. The club spent its first decade largely outside the title race. Its trajectory changed in 2005 when Choi Kang-hee became manager and guided Jeonbuk to the Korean FA Cup. In 2006, despite finishing eleventh domestically, Jeonbuk won the AFC Champions League for the first time. The team defeated prominent clubs from Japan, China and South Korea before overcoming Syria's Al-Karamah in the final. The continental title took Jeonbuk to the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup, where it finished fifth after a defeat to América and a win over Auckland City. Jeonbuk won its first K League championship in 2009 and repeated the achievement in 2011. It also reached the 2011 AFC Champions League final, losing to Al-Sadd on penalties. Hyundai Motor Company's continued investment became visible in the Yulsori Clubhouse, a substantial training complex in Wanju County completed in 2013. The facility supported a more sophisticated sporting operation and helped Jeonbuk win league titles in 2014 and 2015. The 2016 season combined continental triumph with serious disciplinary consequences. Jeonbuk won its second AFC Champions League, defeating Al-Ain 3–2 on aggregate. At the same time, a club scout was found to have bribed referees. The club received a fine and a nine-point deduction in the domestic competition. FC Seoul consequently took the league title, and Jeonbuk was barred from the following AFC Champions League. The case remains the club's defining governance scandal. Jeonbuk rebuilt its domestic supremacy by winning five consecutive K League titles from 2017 through 2021. It added the 2020 Korea Cup to its league victory for the club's first domestic double. Ulsan HD ended the league streak in 2022, although Jeonbuk won the Korea Cup. Results deteriorated further in 2023 and 2024: the club finished fourth and then tenth, missed the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite, and needed a playoff victory over Seoul E-Land to remain in K League 1. The club appointed Gus Poyet in December 2024. His first competitive campaign brought an immediate reversal. Jeonbuk won the 2025 league championship with five matches remaining, produced a 22-match unbeaten run and won the Korea Cup against Gwangju FC. Poyet resigned two days later. Chung Jung-yong then took charge and won the 2026 K League Super Cup against Daejeon Hana Citizen. Jeonbuk plays at Jeonju World Cup Stadium, a 34,207-seat venue opened for the 2002 World Cup cycle. Its high-performance base is the Yulsori Clubhouse, which includes indoor and outdoor training areas, hydrotherapy facilities, accommodation, a gym and dining facilities. The club's strongest modern rivalry is with Ulsan HD, while FC Seoul and Suwon Samsung Bluewings are also important opponents. Jeonbuk has additionally developed an international rivalry with Guangzhou Evergrande through repeated AFC Champions League meetings, although Guangzhou disbanded in 2025.
- 2026
Super Cup victory
[1]Chung Jung-yong led Jeonbuk to victory over Daejeon Hana Citizen in the revived K League Super Cup.
- 2025
Record tenth league title
[1]Jeonbuk won the K League 1 title five matches before the end of the season.
- 2024
Relegation avoided
[1]Jeonbuk defeated Seoul E-Land in the promotion-relegation playoff after finishing tenth in K League 1.
- 2021
Fifth consecutive K League title
[1]The club completed a five-season league championship sequence.
- 2020
First domestic double
[1]Jeonbuk won the K League and Korea Cup in the same season for the first time.
- 2016
Second AFC Champions League title and disciplinary crisis
[1]Jeonbuk won the continental title but also received a domestic points deduction and a later continental exclusion because of a referee-bribery case.
- 2013
Yulsori Clubhouse completed
[1]The club opened a major Hyundai-supported training center in Wanju County.
- 2009
First K League championship
[1]Jeonbuk beat Seongnam Ilhwa in the championship playoff to win its first Korean top-flight title.
- 2006
First AFC Champions League title
[1]Jeonbuk defeated Al-Karamah to become AFC Champions League winners for the first time.
- 2005
First Korean FA Cup under Choi Kang-hee
[1]Choi Kang-hee's first season as manager ended with Jeonbuk winning the Korean FA Cup.
Products and positioning
A Hyundai-backed elite South Korean football club positioned around competitive success, regional identity, green supporter culture and sustained domestic and Asian ambitions.
Professional football · 1994
K League 1 first team
Jeonbuk's principal sporting product is its men's professional team competing in K League 1. Home fixtures are staged at Jeonju World Cup Stadium, while the team represents Jeonju and the wider Honam region in domestic and Asian competition.
Reserve and development football
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors N
The reserve side provides a competitive pathway for developing players and plays home matches at Wanju Public Stadium. It forms part of the club's broader player-development structure alongside the first team.
Sports merchandise
Official merchandise
The club's commercial merchandise program centers on green replica shirts, training apparel, scarves and supporter goods carrying the Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors identity.
Training and performance facility · 2013
Yulsori Clubhouse
Yulsori Clubhouse in Wanju County is the club's high-performance training base. It includes indoor and outdoor pitches, hydrotherapy facilities, accommodation, a gym and a cafeteria, supporting first-team preparation and player development.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2024
Appointment of Gus PoyetStrategyBackground
A tenth-place league finish and a relegation playoff exposed the club's sharp decline after its long period of dominance.
Action taken
Jeonbuk appointed Uruguayan manager Gus Poyet in December 2024.
Aftermath
The appointment was followed by the 2025 K League and Korea Cup double, although Poyet stepped down shortly after the cup final.
2016
Disciplinary response to referee briberyOtherBackground
A club scout's bribery of referees created a serious integrity and governance problem during a season in which Jeonbuk also won the AFC Champions League.
Action taken
The club was fined and received a nine-point deduction; its 2017 AFC Champions League participation was also revoked.
Aftermath
FC Seoul won the 2016 league title, while Jeonbuk had to rebuild its reputation and sporting position.
2013
Investment in the Yulsori training centerStrategyBackground
Jeonbuk sought to build a durable performance platform after beginning to challenge regularly for domestic honors.
Action taken
The club completed the Hyundai-supported Yulsori Clubhouse in Wanju County.
Aftermath
The facility strengthened the club's training, recovery and player-development infrastructure during its period of domestic dominance.
1994
Hyundai Motor Company establishes a new clubStrategyBackground
The financially troubled Chonbuk Buffalo organization had dissolved after the 1994 season, while Hyundai Motor Company was expanding its presence in Jeonju.
Action taken
Hyundai formed Chonbuk Dinos on 12 December 1994 and took over the Buffalo players.
Aftermath
The new organization became the institutional predecessor of modern Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
Sources2 sources
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