Gwangju FC (Korean: 광주 FC) is a South Korean professional football club based in Gwangju that competes in the K League 1, the top tier of South Korean football. They joined the K League in the 2011 season.
Contents
History
Gwangju FC was founded in December 2010, becoming the 16th club in the K League, with Choi Man-hee appointed as the first manager. They finished their first season in 11th place. 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.
The club oscillated between the first and second tiers, winning the second division championship in 2019 and 2022.
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. Under Lee's attacking playing style, Gwangju upset J1 League sides Yokohama F. Marinos 7–3 and Kawasaki Frontale 1–0 in their debut continental matches in the 2024–25 edition, qualifying for the knockout stage as the only South Korean club. After losing 2–0 in the first leg of the round of 16 against Vissel Kobe, they secured a 3–0 victory at home and advanced with a 3–2 aggregate score, becoming the first citizen club to reach the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League.
After guiding Gwangju to the 2025 Korea Cup final, the club's first ever major cup final (which they lost 2–1 to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Lee left the club for Suwon Samsung Bluewings at the end of the season.
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.
Rivalries and supporters
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.
Gwangju also shares a rivalry with nearby Jeonnam Dragons in the Yellow Derby.
The club's main supporters' group is called Bitgoeul, the native Korean name for Gwangju.
Players
Current squad
As of 6 August 2026
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Backroom staff
Coaching staff
Manager: Lee Jung-kyu
Head coach: Ma Chul-jun
Coach: Cho Yong-tae
Goalkeeping coach: Shin Jeong-hwan
Fitness coach: Kim Kyung-do
Analysis coach: Park Won-gyo
Support staff
Analyst: Yook Tae-hun
Medical staff: Shin Yong-sub, Kim Min-shik, Go Han-seul, Yang Jae-hyuk
Interpreter: Choi Hyuk-soon
Kit manager: Oh Dong-yeong
Logistics manager: Jeon Chung-hwi
Team doctor: Lee Jun-young
Source: Official website
Honours
K League 2
Winners (2): 2019, 2022
Runners-up (1): 2014
Korea Cup
Runners-up (1): 2025
Season-by-season records
Domestic
Key
RU = Runners-up
SF = Semi-final
QF = Quarter-final
Ro16 = Round of 16
Ro32 = Round of 32
3R = Third round
Continental
All results list Gwangju's goal tally first.