Dolphin Mulling K-League Promotion
By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Many of Korea's football fans and people related with the sports have wished the Korean Professional Football League (K-League) would be operated like the European leagues featuring at least 18 clubs.
But expanded the K-League is proving difficult, as Ulsan Mipo Dolphin, which topped the National League ― South Korea's amateur league ― Wednesday, deferred an offer to get promoted to the upper level next week.
The two football bodies reached a conclusion last year that a champion of the National League deserves the right to move up to the K-League.
``We have no choice but to delay the decision, now,'' general manager Roh Heung-seop said. ``We will announce it next week after meetings.''
Ulsan Mipo Dolphin became the second league champion to refuse the promotion. Goyang KB won the championship last year, but declined to move up to the K-League, despite facing some punishments, such as fines and loss of points during the season.
Financial issues seem to hamper the football clubs from switching leagues.
Mipo Dockyard is a subsidiary company of Hyundai Heavy Industries, which owns the K-League's Ulsan Tigers. If the Dolphin plays in the K-League next year, the company will have to support two pro football clubs.
In addition, the two teams being based in Ulsan is another problem.
If Mipo seeks to move a team to Seoul, it needs to pay 750 million won. When FC Seoul moved to Seoul from Anyang in 2004, it paid that amount of money, and so will the other teams that will be based in Seoul in the future, as building allotment for the Seoul World Cup Stadium.
With the financial issue arising, the decision to move the club depends on Korea Football Association (KFA) boss Chung Mong-joon, who is also the largest shareholder of Hyundai Heavy.
Local media reported in September that Chung wants to have a Seoul-based team before his term of 16 years as the league head comes to an end in 2008.
``Whether a team moves to the K-League or not is out of my hands. I can't comment on the issue because I am not the one who makes final decisions,'' Roh said.
``The ball is thrown to Mipo. As the company will determine the boost, we just need to wait for their resolution,'' said the National League.