Defending champions Jeonbuk Motors will kick off the 2020 campaign against Suwon Bluewings in the opening match of a campaign that was initially scheduled to commence on February 29.
With the Bundesliga not set to return until next weekend and the rest of the world's major top-flight leagues suspended for the foreseeable future, live football will be a welcome sight for many fans.
We have looked at five players worth keeping an eye out for when watching K League 1 action.
Lee Dong-gook – Jeonbuk Motors
Still going strong as his 42nd birthday approaches in April, Lee is the all-time leading goalscorer in K League history with 224 goals in 537 matches. He is also second in terms of assists with 77. The veteran striker has featured in all of Jeonbuk's seven league title triumphs and contributed five goals as they won the AFC Champions League in 2016. His role in 2020 will likely be as an impact substitute.
Kim Ji-Hyun – Gangwon
Although his 2019 season was cut short by a knee injury sustained in September, Kim remained Gangwon's highest-scoring player with 10 goals. It was just his second year in the league and his displays earned him the Young Player Award in K League 1. The 23-year-old, who has been handed the number nine shirt, is capable of playing anywhere across the front three and will be hoping for an even more prolific campaign this time around.
Won Du-jae – Ulsan
After three seasons in the second tier in Japan, Won will be keen to make a name for himself in his native country. He won the Most Valuable Player award at the AFC Under-23 Championship in Thailand in January, with South Korea taking the title and booking their place at the Olympic Games with six wins in as many matches.
Lee Dong-jun – Busan IPark
Lee was another member of that South Korea team and the success came following a thoroughly impressive campaign in the second tier. The 23-year-old right winger scored 13 goals and set up another seven as Busan gained promotion behind champions Gwangju. He also notched in the 2017 Korean Cup final first leg, though his team ended up losing 2-1 on aggregate to Ulsan.
Adam Taggart – Suwon Bluewings
Australian Taggart was signed by Fulham after an impressive 16-goal return saw him take the 2013-14 A-League Golden Boot for Newcastle Jets, but he failed to make a single appearance at Craven Cottage due to a persistent groin injury. He revived his career at Perth Glory and joined Suwon ahead of the 2019 campaign. He led the scoring charts with 20 goals despite his team finishing a disappointing eighth, though lifting the Korean Cup will have provided some consolation.
Lee Lim-saeng's side had been on a five-match losing run in all competitions stretching back to September, having surrendered a two-goal lead against Ulsan Hyundai last week.
A penalty from Yeom Ki-hun just past the hour mark was enough to end that streak and give Suwon their first three points of 2020.
Sangju Sangmu made it two wins in a row as they held out for a 1-0 victory against Gwangju.
Kang Sang-woo's deflected effort after just five minutes was enough to sink Gwangju and lift the hosts into eighth.
There were nine minutes of injury time at the end of the second half after Kim Hyo-gi required lengthy treatment, having seemingly been knocked unconscious after colliding with Sangju goalkeeper Hwang Byeong-geun.
Earlier, Gangwon and Seongnam played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at Gangneung Stadium.
Ko Moo-yeol put the home side ahead after 17 minutes, but Kwon Soon-hyung levelled 11 minutes after half-time with his first goal since joining Seongnam from Jeju United.
Jeonbuk had won their first three matches of the new campaign to claim top spot, but they met a first major bump in the road when South Korea international Hong was dismissed after just 15 minutes on Saturday.
The former Augsburg defender, who scored in the matchweek two win over Busan IPark, tugged down Cho Jae-wan after a poor first touch on the edge of his own area.
Boss Jose Morais replaced striker Lars Veldwijk with defender Kim Min-hyeok as Gangwon quickly seized control, but the decisive goal arrived eight minutes before half-time.
Ko Moo-yeol headed Kim Kyung-jung's teasing right-wing cross beyond Song Bum-keun from close range to clinch the points.
Jeonbuk's defeat gave unbeaten Ulsan Hyundai the opportunity to move to the summit of the primitive league table with victory over previously pointless basement side Gwangju.
But Ulsan could muster only a 1-1 draw having fallen behind after Eom Won-sang steered past Jo Hyeon-woo 12 minutes in when team-mate Felipe Silva was crowded out inside the area.
A scrappy equaliser followed only after a lengthy VAR delay, with Lee Han-do getting the final touch to beat his own goalkeeper as an awkward cross drifted through the area.
Elsewhere, Saturday's other fixture between Busan and Suwon Bluewings ended goalless.
In just the second weekend of action as South Korea's domestic season returned amid the coronavirus pandemic it looked as though Jeonbuk were heading for a frustrating draw on Saturday.
But substitute Veldwijk outmuscled Yun Suk-young, whose slack defending was punished with a drilled, close-range finish from Han Kyo-won's cross in injury time.
In a frantic match, Hong Jeong-ho's glancing header from Son Jun-ho's free-kick had Jeonbuk in front and Cho Kyu-sung hit the post with the goal gaping, which would have doubled their lead before the break.
Busan were handed a lifeline in the second half when Lee Dong-jun was tripped by Kim Jin-su inside the box. It was difficult to decipher from television replays whether the full-back got a touch on the ball but referee Kim Hee-gon decided to stick with his original decision after a VAR check.
Romulo coolly rolled in the leveller from the penalty spot before Kim Byung-oh had a moment of woe when he missed a sitter shortly after as Busan found some momentum.
And Jeonbuk made it two wins from two to start their campaign thanks to Veldwijk's late intervention.
Daegu fell behind before earning a 1-1 draw at home to Pohang Steelers.
Aleksandar Palocevic timed his run well to slot home Song Min-kyu's cutback shortly before half-time for his second goal in as many weeks.
But Edgar Silva's powerful header midway through the second half earned a share of the spoils.
Sangju Sangmu are up and running for the campaign after a 2-0 triumph over Gangwon.
Kang Sang-woo's 22nd-minute penalty had the home side in front and Moon Seon-min's goal on the counter 12 minutes from time saw Sangmu make amends for a 4-0 loss at Ulsan last weekend.
Seoul finished third in the 2019 campaign and they took the lead at Gangwon, Park Dong-jin's deflected shot finding the net to put the visitors ahead at the break.
However, the hosts hit back in the second half, starting with substitute Kim Ji-hyun converting a cross to level. They then secured victory with two late goals, the first of them scored by Cho Jae-wan with a clever back-heeled finish.
Having created his side's second, Kim Seung-dae sealed the result less than a minute later, cutting inside onto his right foot to score with a low finish.
Meanwhile, Pohang Steelers were too strong for Busan I'Park, running out 2-0 winners.
Stanislav Iljutcenko opened the scoring midway through the first half but the home team were made to wait to seal the points, Serbia midfielder Aleksandar Palocevic eventually doubling their lead from the penalty spot in the 71st minute.
The K League season finally began on Friday - Jeonbuk Motors recording a 1-0 triumph over Suwon Bluewings - following a delay due to the coronavirus health crisis.
