Why South Korea’s military club Gimcheon Sangmu will be relegated (even if they finish top)

South Korea’s Gimcheon Sangmu are one of the most curious clubs in world football, with players only allowed to stay for 18 months while they complete their military service.

They also cannot play in AFC competitions and are 100% certain to be relegated from the K-League this season, even if they were to finish top of the table.

So are the players footballers, soldiers or both? Is it actually compulsory to perform the military salute when they score a goal? Why are they doomed to relegation in 2026 whatever happens? And what major change is set to come to the K-League soon?

Plus, Andros Townsend is run over by a Thai pitch roller, Uruguay chases its first-ever Copa Sudamericana title, an Icelandic referee goes on a literal wild goose chase and Romania introduces a black card for abusive parents.

Join us on Patreon for Monday’s bumper bonus podcast featuring tales from Central and Eastern Europe, plus a special blog interview with FC Vaduz’s director of football Franz Burgmeier all about Liechtenstein’s integration into Swiss football.

Links

John Duerden's 'How Football Explains Asia' Substack is here.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

01:00 – Gimcheon Sangmu’s last hurrah

07:55 – Andros Townsend’s Thai accident

10:30 – Uruguay’s first Copa Sudamericana?