The draw for the first round proper of the 2009 Korean FA Cup was made on Thursday, with the fourteen National League sides all drawn away to K-League opposition under the new seeding system employed for the tournament.
The practice of assigning home advantage to the lower level side has been done away with for 2009, so all fifteen K-League clubs will enjoy playing in front of their home crowd when the last 32 gets underway on May 13th. Holders Pohang Steelers kick off the defence of their trophy against National League strugglers Hongcheon Idu, whilst 2008 K-League champions Suwon Samsung Bluewings will face Nowon Hummel for the second successive season. Nowon took their more illustrious opponents to penalties last time out and will be looking for revenge.
Goyang Kookmin Bank, semi-finalists in 2008, take on Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i and may well fancy their chances against a side that has made a stuttering start to their 2009 season. Defending National League champions Ulsan Mipo Dockyard will be looking to put their poor start to the season behind them when they face K-League strugglers Busan I'Park, and Incheon Korail will fancy their chances of adding to their already impressive haul of cup shocks as they take on K-League newboys Gangwon FC.
The full draw for Round 1 is as follows, with ties scheduled to take place on Wednesday May 13th:
Pohang Steelers v Hongcheon Idu
FC Seoul v Gimhae FC
Incheon United v Kyunghee University
Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i v Goyang Kookmin Bank
Jeju United v Gangneung City
Busan I'Park v Ulsan Mipo Dockyard
Gangwon FC v Incheon Korail
Daejeon Citizen v Cheonan City
Gyeongnam FC v Ansan Hallelujah
Gwangju Sangmu v Yesan FC
Daegu FC v Suwon City
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma v Busan Transportation Corporation
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors v Changwon City
Chunnam Dragons v Daejeon Hydro & Nuclear Power
Suwon Samsung Bluewings v Nowon Hummel
Sunmoon University v Joongang University
The second round is scheduled for July 1st, with winners from adjacent ties facing each other all the way through to the final. The quarter-finals will take place on July 15th, with the semi-finals on October 7th and the final on November 8th. The tournament winners will qualify for the 2010 AFC Champions League competition.
