K-League players' union calls for switch to autumn-spring season format

The Korea Professional Football Players Association has called for a full switch of the K-League to an autumn-spring season format.

The autumn-spring system runs a season from fall through the following spring, in contrast to the current spring-autumn format, under which the K-League begins in spring and runs through late fall.

The need for such a switch has been consistently raised in recent years in light of climate change and global trends, and discussions on the matter are ongoing.

The association said Thursday that "the current spring-autumn system should be converted to an autumn-spring format in order to protect players' right to life from the severe climate crisis and deadly summer heat, and to maintain K-League's leadership in Asia and its global competitiveness."

In recent July and August periods, temperatures hovering around 35 degrees Celsius — combined with high humidity — have persisted not only during the day but also at night, forcing players to compete in extreme heat. Given the physically demanding and contact-intensive nature of football, the association said playing in such conditions raises the risk of heatstroke, other heat-related illnesses and muscle injuries.

This summer's record-breaking heat wave prompted an unprecedented response in professional baseball, with all 15 scheduled games across five stadiums nationwide canceled from Aug. 7 through Aug. 9.

Even after play resumed, start times — previously 6:30 p.m. on weekdays and 6 p.m. on weekends — were pushed back to 7 p.m. for both.

The Korea Professional Football Federation also moved K-League kickoff times for matches held Aug. 7 and Aug. 8 from 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The association said the case for switching formats "is not limited to weather and player protection," also pointing to broader global trends: the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) overhauled its Champions League schedule to an autumn-spring format starting with the 2023-2024 season, and Japan's J-League has decided to adopt the same system from the 2026-2027 season.

On concerns that a switch would make it difficult to maintain pitch conditions and attract crowds during the cold and heavy snowfall of December through February, the association said the impact on the league could be minimized through sufficient discussion and supplementary measures, such as introducing a winter break.

Association president Lee Geun-ho said "the common voice from the field is that guaranteeing a proper rest period in the middle of winter is far more beneficial for preventing injuries and maintaining performance than relentlessly playing league and cup matches under the brutal summer sun." He added that "investment is also needed in infrastructure improvements — such as expanding stadium heating facilities and introducing hybrid turf — for the long-term enhancement of the league's value."