K League 2 Entry One Step Closer for Paju Citizen FC
Passes First League Review, Bright Prospects for Professional Debut
Paju City in Gyeonggi Province announced on August 13 that Paju Citizen Football Club received preliminary approval at the Korea Professional Football League board meeting on the 11th for joining the K League 2 in the 2026 season. As a result, the club now faces only one final step before officially entering K League 2: obtaining final approval at the regular general meeting scheduled for January next year.
Paju Citizen Football Club received preliminary approval at the Korea Professional Football League Federation board meeting on the 11th for joining the K League 2 in the 2026 season. Photo by Paju City
Paju Citizen Football Club officially declared its intention to join the professional league by submitting its application for K League 2 membership on June 26. Since then, the league has conducted a thorough review of the club’s operational plans, including stadium facilities, front office staff expansion, and youth development systems, and delivered a positive evaluation.
In particular, Paju City is preparing a comprehensive plan that includes utilizing the National Football Center (NFC) as an affiliated facility for the professional team, operating a youth academy, expanding dedicated facilities, and establishing a foundation for private investment and sponsorship. These efforts contributed to the league’s favorable assessment.
Kim Kyungil, Mayor of Paju, stated, “This preliminary approval is more than just a promotion for the football club; it marks a significant turning point for the city’s brand and for the development of the local economy and culture. We will focus all our efforts on securing final approval at the general meeting.”
Looking ahead, Paju Citizen Football Club plans to: ▲strengthen its squad to ensure competitiveness at the K League 2 level; ▲establish a youth development system in the region; ▲create a vibrant home game culture involving local citizens; ▲upgrade its dedicated clubhouse and training facilities; and ▲expand partnerships with local businesses. The club also aims to solidify its identity as “the citizens’ club” by institutionalizing community-focused programs such as fan meetings and soccer clinics, in which Paju residents can actively participate.
Meanwhile, if Paju Citizen Football Club, which has already achieved promotions from K4 to K3 League since its founding, succeeds in advancing to K League 2, it will become the first club in K League history to achieve direct promotion from the fifth tier to the second tier. As the club awaits final approval, Paju City is strengthening its foundation as a professional club and plans to continue investing with the long-term goal of reaching K League 1.
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