Jeju United FC

Jeju United FC
제주 유나이티드 FC

Full name	Jeju United Football Club 제주 유나이티드 축구단
Founded	1982 (1982), as Yukong FC
Ground	Jeju World Cup Stadium
Capacity	35,657
Owner	SK Energy
Chairman	Koo Ja-Young
Manager	Nam Ki-Il
League	K League 1
2023	8th
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours

The Jeju United FC, founded in 1982, is a professional football team in the K League 1. It uses the Jeju World Cup Stadium as its home stadium. Although it is based in Seogwipo at this moment, it has been through several base changes. Its original name was Yukong Elephants FC, which was founded in 1982 and based in Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi-do province. This YooGong football club changed its home stadium to Seoul in 1990. In 1996, as a part of localization policy, it again changed its home stadium to Bucheon, and changed its name as Bucheon SK. However, the overall facilities in Bucheon were not enough, so it finally changed its home stadium to the Jeju World Cup Stadium in Jeju Island, thus getting the name 'Jeju United FC.'

Overview

Jeju United is famous for educating coaches and for supporting the development of football techniques. For example, Valeri Nepomniachi, the Russian coach hired in 1994, delivered many developed strategies and techniques to the K League. This created a vogue 'Nepomniachi Style' among other teams. Its mascot is Kamguri, which represents the symbol of Jeju, the Mandarin. Its home stadium, 'Jeju World Cup Stadium,' can accommodate 35,545 people.

Jeju United FC has been doing well in the K League. It came in 3rd in the 1983 Superleague. Beginning from this, it has usually maintained good rankings in K-league including the championship in 1989. In 2010, it maintained first place throughout the season, but was surpassed by FC Seoul at the last match, ending in second place.

Emblem

The emblem of Jeju United FC is a shield-shaped one with the combination of black, red, and blue. This will enable people to feel the power of the football team. To be more specific, the emblem represents Hallasan and the horn of a deer which symbolize Jeju Island. This expresses the defense power of the team. At the same time, the sword in the middle which was made from the 'J' in Jeju Island involves the team's spirit that it will adopt the attacking-strategy as its main one. In addition to this, it uses the motif of SK group's Happy Wings so that the Jeju residents would become united through the soccer.

Stadium

Jeju World Cup Stadium was built in harmony with Jeju's culture, nature, and life. First, the entrance was made after the traditional entrance, Olle. Also, Jeongnang, a traditional door, stands next to the entrance. The overall shape of the stadium resembles the so-called 'Oreum'. Oreum is a parasitic volcano, and its top has a concave shape. To attain this concave shape, the stadium made the field 14m under the ground, which minimized the effect of the wind. Besides, the roof of the stadium symbolizes Teu, the traditional boat for fishing. As a home stadium of Jeju United FC, it can accommodate more than 35.000 people.