Incheon United promoted back to K League 1 after 1 season in second division

Incheon United players celebrate a goal by Stefan Mugosa, center, against Gyeongnam FC during the clubs' K League 2 match at Incheon Football Stadium in the western city of Incheon, Sunday. Courtesy of Korea Professional Football League

Incheon United are returning to the top division in Korean football after spending just one season in the second-tier competition.

Incheon United locked down the K League 2 title and earned automatic promotion to the K League 1 on Sunday, thanks to a 3-0 victory over Gyeongnam FC 3-0 at Incheon Football Stadium in Incheon, just west of Seoul. Stefan Mugosa scored his league-leading 20th goal in the victory.

Incheon improved to 77 points with three matches to play, opening up a 10-point lead on second-place Suwon Samsung Bluewings and ensuring that they will not be caught at the top of the tables.

The K League 2 champions are promoted to the K League 1 each year, while teams finishing from second to fifth have a chance to move up through playoffs against K League 1 opponents.

Incheon suffered direct relegation to the K League 2 last year after finishing dead last in the 12-team K League 1. Then on Sunday, they became the eighth team to earn promotion after only one season in the K League 2 since the current promotion-relegation system was put in place in 2013.

Yoon Jong-hwan, who was not re-signed by Gangwon FC last year despite leading them to second place in the K League 1 and earning the Coach of the Year award, led Incheon United back to the top competition in his first season in charge.