Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Eliminated from Korea Cup by Third-Division Dangjin Citizen FC

By Yoo Jee-ho

SEOUL, Aug. 19 (Yonhap) -- The reigning South Korean football league champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors suffered a massive upset in their first knockout match of the top national football tournament Wednesday.

Jeonbuk, the 2025 K League 1 champions, lost to third-division club Dangjin Citizen FC 5-3 on penalties in the round of 16 at the Korea Cup at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in the southern city of Jeonju.

Jeonbuk, who also won the 2025 Korea Cup for a domestic double, are tied with Pohang Steelers for the most Korea Cup titles with six apiece but will not have a chance to add to their total this year.

Jeonbuk and Dangjin were knotted at 2-2 after 90 minutes of action plus 30 minutes of extra time. In the shootout, all five Dangjin kickers converted their chances, while Dangjin goalkeeper Choi Young-eun denied Jeonbuk's third taker, Kim Ha-jun, for the stunning victory.

Pohang squeezed past a fourth-division club, Jinju Citizen FC, by 3-1, thanks to two goals and an assist by Jorge Teixeira.

Pohang were supposed to be the home team, but the match was played in the neutral venue of Gwangyang Football Stadium, with Pohang Steel Yard in the southeastern city of Pohang closed until further notice due to safety issues.

Gwangju FC of the K League 1 edged out Ulsan Citizen FC of the K3 League 1-0. Daejeon Hana Citizen FC of the K League 1 defeated the K League 2 side Chungnam Asan FC 3-2.

In a battle of K League 1 teams, FC Anyang held off Jeju SK FC 2-1. Gimpo FC of the K League 2 got past Gimcheon Sangmu FC of the K League 1 by a score of 2-1.

There were two other matches that went to the penalties, with Gangwon FC beating Seongnam FC 4-3 and Bucheon FC 1995 eliminating Busan IPark with a 5-3 win.

The quarterfinals and the semifinals will be played in May 2027, with the tournament having switched to the fall-spring calendar. The championship final will be June 5 next year.

The quarterfinals matchups are Daejeon-Gwangju, Pohang-Anyang, Dangjin-Gimpo and Gangwon-Bucheon.