Gimcheon Sangmu Dissolution After License Failure
Gimcheon Sangmu’s participation in the K League 1 is hanging by a thread after failing to obtain the necessary license for the upcoming season. The team, which debuted in 2021 under an agreement between Gimcheon City, the Army Sports Corps (Sangmu), and the Korea Professional Football League, has been unable to secure the required ‘K League 1 License’ due to the expiration of its regional affiliation agreement with Gimcheon City.
Coach Joo Seung-jin is trying to keep his team focused despite the uncertainty surrounding their future. “Football must continue,” he said in a recent statement, urging his players to stay committed to their craft even as the team’s fate hangs in the balance.

The team’s demise is a result of Gimcheon City’s decision not to pursue the transition of Gimcheon Sangmu into a civilian professional football team. This move has left Sangmu without a new regional base, and it remains to be seen whether they will be able to find a new home in time for the upcoming season.
