Processions

The KFA's plan to utilize more of the empty World Cup stadia took a further step forward at the beginning of the 2003 season, as a brand new club Daegu FC was created to play in the Daegu stadium. Also Sangmu, the military team that played one unsuccessful season in the K-League back in 1985, applied to rejoin the league and were admitted under the new name of Gwangju Sangmu Phoenix, to play out of the Gwangju World Cup stadium. Busan I'cons also moved, from the old Gudeok stadium into the Busan World Cup stadium.

The 2003 K-League season became something of a procession for Seongnam as they wrapped up their third title in a row. The league, expanded to twelve teams, saw each side face each other four times over forty-four games, a K-League record. The two new sides had relatively quiet seasons, with Gwangju Sangmu and Daegu finishing tenth and eleventh respectively. A disappointing Bucheon side finished at the foot of the table.

Defending FA Cup holders Suwon crashed out at the first hurdle, going down 3-2 to Kyunghee University. Two other high-profile K-League clubs, Busan I'cons and Anyang LG Cheetahs, exited the tournament at the hands of Konkuk University and Korea University respectively. The final was won on penalties by Chonbuk Hyundai Motors, who edged out Chunnam Dragons 4-2 after a 2-2 extra-time draw

2003 saw the launch of the K2 league, a new league below the level of the K-League. Ten teams were initially included in the K2 lineup: Kookmin Bank, Gangneung City, Icheon Sangmu, Seosan Citizen, Suwon City, Korea National Power, Hallelujah, Korea National Railroad, Uijeongbu Hummel and Ulsan Mipo Dockyard. Two clubs, Kookmin Bank and Hallelujah, had been previous K-League member sides. Hallelujah were only involved for half of the two-section season however, as they were banned from using their home stadium in Iksan after angry protests from radical Won Buddhists, and they were replaced for the second section by Seoul City Hall, a team based at the Seoul World Cup stadium.

Kookmin Bank won the first section of the K2 league, and Icheon Sangmu won the second section to set up a two-legged Championship play-off. Kookmin Bank won the first leg 3-2 in Icheon, and Icheon won the second leg 2-1, however Kookmin Bank won the Championship on away goals.

Humberto Coelho, like his foreign predecessor Hiddink, didn't get off to the best of starts as national coach. His side registered only one goal in their opening five friendlies, which appeared to be scant preparation for the forthcoming Asian Cup qualifiers. Korea opened with a 5-0 defeat of Vietnam, and then disposed of Oman 1-0 before crushing Nepal 16-0 to set a new record international scoreline. In the return fixtures however, Korea crashed to defeats against Vietnam and Oman, losing 1-0 and 3-1 respectively. A 7-0 trouncing of Nepal rounded off the campaign which saw Korea finish a surprising second place in their group.

Victory in the East Asia Cup, triumphing over Hong Kong, China and Japan, was little compensation for the blow dealt to Korean football by the two embarrassing defeats.

The K-League further expanded its membership to thirteen sides when Incheon United were created to play out of the Incheon World Cup stadium from the 2004 season. That left only the Seoul and Seogwipo World Cup stadiums lying empty for K-League matches from the ten stadia built for the 2002 World Cup.