Korea American Football Association
The Korea American Football Association (KAFA, Korean: 대한미식축구협회, Hanja: 大韓美式蹴球協會) has existed in South Korea for more than 70 years. The popularity of American football in Korea has been historically low, but with the visit of Hines Ward (a Korean born NFL football star with the Pittsburgh Steelers) in 2006, the sport received a modest level of increased appeal. Within Korea, KAFA is a sports governing body over both traditional football with pads and also flag football.
Korea American Football Association's logo | |
Formation | 1945 |
---|---|
Type | Non-profit |
Headquarters | Seoul |
Official language | Korean (KR) |
Chairman | Park Kyung-Kyu |
Website | KAFA.org |
Traditional football leagues within Korea is divided between university and senior (KNFL) teams. Three championship bowl games of special note occur at the end of the season. The Tiger Bowl determines the champions of the University league, the Gwangaeto Bowl determines the champions of the KNFL, and finally, the Kimchi Bowl, the Korean equivalent of Japan's Rice Bowl, pits the University champion against the KNFL champion.
College Programs
Institution | 한국어 | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Nickname | Colors |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dong-eui University | 동의대학교 | Busan | 1977 | Private | 22,992 | Turtle Fighters | Red and White |
Yonsei University | 연세대학교 | Seoul | 1977 | Private | 38,725 | Eagles | Royal Blue |
Dankook University | 단국대학교 | Yongin | 2015 | Private | 31,347 | Kodiak | Navy and White |
KNFL
In 2015, there were seven teams in the KNFL, divided into two divisions (북부리그 North Division, 남부리그 South Division). The top two seeds of each division played in a four-team semifinal playoff. Winners of the semifinals played in the Gwanggaeto Bowl Championship. The KNFL Champion played the Korean University League Champion in the Kimchi Bowl.
Starting in 2016, the KNFL changed to a full league format, with each of the seven teams playing one another. The two teams with the best regular season records face off in the Gwanggaeto Bowl. The KNFL Champion plays the Korean University League Champion in the Kimchi Bowl.
- Seoul Golden Eagles
- Seoul Carnivores (Sponsor: Seoul University OB)
- Seoul Vikings
- Daegu Phoenix
- Samsung Geoje Blue Storm
- Busan Gryphons
- KS Bluegons (Sponsor: KyungSung University OB)
Gwanggaeto Bowl Champions
# | Date | Champion | 2nd Place | Score | Stadium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1996.1.7 | Seven Six | Leos | 20 - 6 | Seoul Hyochang Stadium |
2 | 1997.1.19 | Bluegons | Blue Friends | 18 - 6 | Busan Sagick Stadium |
3 | 1998.1.11 | Seven Six | Bluegons | 6 - 0 | Kyungsung University Stadium |
4 | 1999.1.10 | Blue Friends | Caps | 12 - 6 | Seoul Hyochang Stadium |
5 | 2000.1.9 | Red Stars | Caps | 32 - 22 | Seoul Hyochang Stadium |
6 | 2001.1.14 | Red Stars | Scholars | 20 - 6 | Seoul Hyochang Stadium |
7 | 2002.1.13 | Seven Six | Red Stars | 18 - 12 | Daegu Dooryu Stadium |
8 | 2003.1.12 | Scholars | Caps | 18 - 12 | Busan National University Stadium |
9 | 2004.1.18 | Caps (Seoul Golden Eagles) | Bluegons | 17 - 6 | Busan National University Stadium |
10 | 2005.1.16 | Halraes | Seven Six | 14 - 7 | Seoul Hyochang Stadium |
11 | 2005.12.18 | Seoul Vikings | Caps | 33 - 21 | Yongin University Stadium |
12 | 2006.12.10 | Gryphons | Seoul Vikings | 19 - 10 | Seoul National University Stadium |
13 | 2007.12.2 | Gryphons | ADT Caps | 23 - 13 | Yongin University Stadium |
14 | 2008.12.7 | Seoul Vikings | Seoul Golden Eagles | 28 - 3 | Namyangju Stadium |
15 | 2009.12.6 | ADT Caps | Seoul Vikings | 13 - 0 | Namyangju Stadium |
16 | 2010.12.12 | Daegu Phoenix | ADT Caps | 14 - 7 | Namyangju Stadium |
17 | 2011.12.4 | Seoul Warriors | Domino | 16 - 13 | Seoul Yongsan SIMS Stadium |
18 | 2012.12.2 | Seoul Vikings | Seoul Warriors | 14 - 7 | Seoul Yongsan SIMS Stadium |
19 | 2013.11.24 | Seoul Vikings | Seoul Golden Eagles | 26 - 23 | Seoul Yongsan SIMS Stadium |
20 | 2014.11.16 | Samsung BlueStorm | Daegu Phoenix | 28 - 13 | Jinyeong Stadium |
21 | 2015.11.15 | Seoul Golden Eagles | Daegu Phoenix | 22 - 14 | Haany University Stadium |
22 | 2016.11.20 | Daegu Phoenix | Samsung Bluestorm | 34 - 20 | SeoChang Stadium in Yangsan |
23 | 2017.11.26 | Seoul VIkings | Samsung Bluestorm | 13 - 12 | SeoChang Stadium in Yangsan |
Kimchi Bowl
The Kimchi Bowl is the final championship game of KAFA. The game pits the KNFL team that has won the Gwanggaeto Bowl against the university team that has won the Tiger bowl.
Kimchi Bowl Champions
# | Date | Champion | 2nd Place | Score | Stadium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1996.1.14 | DongA University | Seven Six | 12 - 7 | Busan Sagick Stadium |
2 | 1997.1.26 | Bluegons | Keimyung University | 28 - 18 | Busan Sagick Stadium |
3 | 1998.1.18 | Kyungpook National University | Seven Six | 47 - 6 | Seoul Hyochang Stadium |
4 | 1999.1.17 | DongA University | Blue Friends | 35 - 22 | Seoul Hyochang Stadium |
5 | 2000.1.16 | DongA University | Red Stars | 19 - 14 | Seoul Hyochang Stadium |
6 | 2001.1.21 | Red Stars | Kyungsung University | 13 - 0 | Seoul Hyochang Stadium |
7 | 2002.1.27 | Seven Six | Kyungsung University | 27 - 14 | Daegu Dooryu Stadium |
8 | 2003.1.19 | Gumoh National University | Scholars | 7 - 6 | Busan National University Stadium |
9 | 2004.1.1 | Caps (Seoul Golden Eagles) | DongA University | 23 - 17 | Busan National University Stadium |
10 | 2005.1.30 | Halraes | Gumoh National University | 27 - 12 | Seoul Hyochang Stadium |
11 | 2006.1.8 | DongA University | Seoul Vikings | 7 - 6 | Keimyung University Stadium |
12 | 2007.1.14 | Busan Gryphons | DongEui University | 37 - 0 | Busan National University Stadium |
13 | 2008.1.6 | Busan Gryphons | DongEui University | 21 - 12 | Busan National University Stadium |
14 | 2009.1.11 | Seoul Vikings | DongEui University | 20 - 14 | Namyangju Sports Complex |
15 | 2010.1.10 | Busan National University | ADT Caps | 34 - 13 | Namyangju Sports Complex |
16 | 2011.1.9 | Daegu Phoenix | Busan National University | 40 - 24 | Kyungpook National University Stadium |
17 | 2012.1.8 | Seoul Warriors | Busan National University | 14 - 0 | Seoul Yongsan SIMS Stadium |
18 | 2012.12.30 | Seoul Vikings | Hanyang University | 23 - 0 | Pocheon Sports Complex |
19 | 2013.12.1 | Busan National University | Seoul Vikings | 14 - 6 | Kyungil University Stadium |
20 | 2014.11.30 | Samsung BlueStorm | DongEui University | 7 - 6 | Geoje Samsung Heavy Industries Stadium |
21 | 2015.12.6 | Seoul Golden Eagles | DongEui University | 27 - 6 | Seoul National University Stadium |
22 | 2016.12.4 | DongEui University (Turtle Fighters) | Daegu Phoenix | 17 - 6 | Kyungpook National University Stadium |
23 | 2017.12.5 | DongEui University (Turtle Fighters) | Seoul Vikings | 21 - 14 | Busan National University Stadium |
See also
References
External links
- (in Korean) KAFA Official website
- Seoul Golden Eagles Official Website
- (in Korean) Seoul Vikings Official Website
- Daegu Phoenix Official Website
- (in Korean) Samsung Geoje Blue Storm Official Website
- (in Korean) Busan Gryphons Official Website