WK League News

The 2026 WK League new players’ draft took place this morning at the Olympic Parktel in Seoul. Managers and coaching staff from seven of the eight WK League teams (military team Mungyeong Sangmu do not participate in the draft) were in attendance to take their pick from among the dozens of hopefuls. Among them was Park Namyeol, who has replaced Song Juhee at Gyeongju KHNP, returning to the WK League for the first time since 2016.

Proceedings began with a representative of each club drawing lots to determine the order of the draft. A team’s position in the draft can be the difference between securing a star player and seeing that player snatched from in front of their eyes by a rival club — several of the all-time greats of the WK League over the years have been first-round draftees. This year Seoul City got the chance to make the first pick, followed by Incheon Hyundai, Sejong Sportstoto, Gyeongju KHNP, Changnyeong WFC, Suwon FC and Hwacheon KSPO, in that order. Unlike in previous years, clubs drew lots to decide the order of each round, rather than keeping the same order and alternating the ‘direction’ of the draft.

A new-look draft for a new-look WK League?

This bit of admin wasn’t the only sign of change at this year’s draft compared to previous years. In an unprecedented move, Seoul City chose not to use their once-coveted position, passing in the first round and, as it turned out, making no signings at all at this year’s draft. Changes to the WK League’s rules, in particular the newly introduced Free Agent clause, have given clubs more freedom in recruitment, rendering the draft a bit of a non-event, if not quite obsolete (yet).

Read more: WK League salary cap to be raised for first time in 15 years

Of 48 players available for selection in this year’s draft, only 11 were signed by the WK League clubs. Last year’s draft resulted in 24 out of 50 eligible players signing contracts. Among the eleven players who were selected today, five of them are heading to Changnyeong WFC, which will be known as Gangjin WFC and led by former Gwangyang Girls’ High School head coach Kwon Youngin by the time the 2026 season begins. Seoul was not the only club to leave the Olympic Parktel with no new signings today — Suwon FC also passed in every round, with fans expressing concern about the club’s budget after its men’s team was relegated from first division K League 1 to K League 2 earlier this week.

Ulsan College trio picked in first round

Only three players were selected in the first round, with Incheon Hyundai claiming draft first dibs for the second year in a row thanks to Seoul’s decision to pass. Incheon manager Hur Jeongjae selected goalkeeper Cho Eojin, formerly of Ulsan College, to join his squad. Cho was part of Korea’s squad at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia, though she is yet to earn an international cap. More recently, Ulsan College lifted the trophy in their division at the National Women’s Football Championship, and Cho took home the Best Goalkeeper award. She has big boots (or perhaps big gloves) to fill at Incheon as she steps into a spot vacated by Red Angels legend Kim Jungmi, who recently left the club after 21 years there.

Sejong Sportstoto recruited Yoon Minji, who registered for the draft as an unaffiliated player but previously played for Ulsan College. Midfielder Yoon has a handful of youth international caps including three appearances at the 2019 AFC U-16 Women’s Championship. Completing the first round of signings, Gyeongju KHNP signed defender Yang Damin, yet another alumna of Ulsan College, and of Korea’s 2024 U-20 World Cup squad.

Pass, pass, pass as the draft goes on

The second and third rounds of the draft featured a lot of passing, with only two more players signed. In Round 2, WK League title holders Hwacheon KSPO made their only selection of the morning, bringing in midfielder Ko Eunbin, formerly of Ulsan College. In Round 3, Gyeongju KHNP picked forward Park Yoojeong, an alumna of Dankook University who was top goalscorer in the university division at the recent 2025 KWFF Fall Women’s Football Championship.

With five players having secured three-year contracts with their new clubs, the additional signing rounds got underway, with players selected signing an initial one-year contract. Sejong Sportstoto made their second selection of the day, naming Lee Jeongin, formerly of Daeduk University. Finally, there was a flurry of activity from Changnyeong WFC, who added five new players to their squad: Kim Kyuyeon (Ulsan College), Ko Da-ae (Korea University), Choi Eunhyung (Korea University), Kim Surin (Uiduk University) and Yoon Yuri (Gangwon State University).