What (who) is K League decentralization policy - definition

The K League decentralization policy in 1995 was an policy of moving K League clubs located in Seoul to other regions. It was an effort by the Government of South Korea and the K League Federation to increase popularity of football nationwide before the 2002 FIFA World Cup for which they bid.

The decentralization policy in the K League was an effort by the Korea Professional Football League and South Korean Government in 1995 in order to spread football popularity in the provinces (except Seoul) by compulsory relocating top division professional football clubs away from Seoul. Partially motivated by its bid for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the league succeeded in its policy as the Yukong Elephants, Ilhwa Chunma, and the LG Cheetahs moved to Bucheon, Cheonan, and Anyang respectively in 1996.

The 2018 K League 2 was the sixth season of the K League 2, the second tier South Korean professional league for association football clubs since its establishment in 2013, and the first one with its current name, the K League 2. The top-ranked team and the winner of the promotion play-offs among three clubs ranked between second and fourth were promoted to the K League 1 after the regular season ends.