Created in 1996 as a direct immitation of the successful European counterparts, the FA Cup is the only competition that pits the K-League sides up against the rest of Korean football, from the National League down to the university and amateur ranks.
Pohang Steelers won the inaugural tournament in 1996 by defeating Suwon Samsung Bluewings on penalties, and the post-season competition has grown from there. In 2005 hundreds of amateur sides battled it out in the qualifying rounds for the right to take their place alongside the more glamourous names in the tournament, and Ulsan Mipo Dockyard made history by becoming the first K2 League side to reach the final, losing out to Cheonbuk Hyundai Motors at the final hurdle.