Gangjin Swans WFC
| Full name | Gangjin Swans Women's Football Club |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2018 (as Changnyeong WFC) |
| Ground | Gangjin Stadium |
| Capacity | 2,000 |
| Chairman | Ahn Myung-seok |
| Head coach | Go Hyun-ho |
| League | WK League |
| 2025 | WK League, 8th of 8 |
Gangjin Swans Women's Football Club (Korean: 강진 스완스 WFC) is a South Korean women's football team based in Gangjin County. Established in 2018 as Changnyeong WFC, the team plays in the WK League, the top division of women's football in South Korea.
History
Foundation
The foundation of a new women's football team to be based in Changnyeong County was announced in late 2017, with the objective of developing women's football and maintaining the eight-team system in the WK League following the dissolution of Icheon Daekyo.[1] Former Icheon manager Shin Sang-woo was appointed as Changnyeong WFC's first manager, and the Korean Women's Football Federation allowed the club two priority picks at the beginning of the 2018 WK League draft.[2] Thanks to this special consideration, the newly established club was able to sign two of the most sought-after talents in the draft, South Korea internationals Son Hwa-yeon and Hong Hye-ji, along with seven other rookie draftees.[3] Changnyeong also acquired three former Icheon players, three free agents and a small number of other rookies, starting their first league season with a squad of only 19 players.[4]
Changnyeong played their first league match away against Suwon FMC.[4] Their first home match took place on 30 April 2018 against Incheon Hyundai Steel.[5]
Poor performance and financial difficulties
After finishing at the bottom of the league for two years in a row, the club attempted to bolster its squad ahead of the 2020 season, recruiting a number of experienced players including former Japan international Nanase Kiryu.[6] The influx of talent helped the team reach their highest ever finish, ending the season in fifth place.[7] However, Changnyeong were unable to build on this momentum, scoring only nine points to finish bottom of the table once again in 2021.[8] The trend of poor performance continued as the club faced increasing financial pressure. Despite increased financial contributions from Changnyeong County, subsidies provided by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to the Korean Women's Football Federation to fund league operations steadily decreased from 2021 to 2023.[9] In 2024, with the existence of the league itself under threat, Changnyeong WFC's future was also called into question due to financial difficulties and low attendance. Even the signing of star striker and South Korea international Lee Eun-young was not enough to save Changnyeong from eighth place in the league, and the lowest attendance of all WK League clubs in 2024.[10][11]
After the 106th National Sports Festival, the club was rebranded as Gangjin Swans WFC and relocated to Gangjin County, South Jeolla Province, starting with the 2026 season.[12]
Stadium
Between 2018 and 2025, the club played their home fixtures at Changnyeong Sports Park in Bugok.[5] Changnyeong WFC had priority access to the facility's grass pitches, artificial pitches and health centre, with the club's former manager Ahn Tae-hwa describing it as the "best environment in [Korean] women's football".[13] Changnyeong Sports Park has also hosted the National Women's Football Tournament for four years in a row.[14]
Current squad
- As of 6 March 2026[15]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Coaching staff
- Head coach: Go Hyun-ho
- Coach: Jeon Hyeong-chan
- Goalkeeping coach: Yeo Myung-yong
- Physical coach: Maeng Chang-yoon
- Trainer: Kim Soo-ha
Season-by-season records
| Season | WK League regular season | Position | Playoffs | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | |||
| 2018 | 28 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 30 | 80 | 12 | 8th | Did not qualify |
| 2019 | 28 | 1 | 6 | 21 | 15 | 71 | 9 | 8th | Did not qualify |
| 2020 | 21 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 33 | 41 | 26 | 5th | Did not qualify |
| 2021 | 21 | 1 | 6 | 14 | 19 | 47 | 9 | 8th | Did not qualify |
| 2022 | 21 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 20 | 42 | 16 | 7th | Did not qualify |
| 2023 | 21 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 15 | 37 | 14 | 8th | Did not qualify |
| 2024 | 28 | 2 | 5 | 21 | 11 | 47 | 11 | 8th | Did not qualify |
| 2025 | 28 | 2 | 4 | 22 | 17 | 66 | 10 | 8th | Did not qualify |
References
- ^ Hong, Jae-ryong (27 December 2017). "창녕군 여자축구단 창단" [Women's football club established in Changnyeong County]. Gyeongnam Domin News (in Korean). Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ Lee, Dong-chil (22 December 2017). "여자축구 신생팀 창녕FC '신인 드래프트서 16명 이상 충원'" [New women's football team Changnyeong WFC 'plan to recruit more than 16 players in the draft']. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ Lee, Jung-taek (27 December 2017). "'신생팀' 창녕WFC, 드래프트 '최대어' 홍혜지-손화연 싹쓸이" ['Newborn team' Changnyeong WFC catches the draft's 'biggest fish' Hong Hye-ji and Son Hwa-yeon]. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ a b Jung, Sung-in (27 February 2018). "팀 해체 아픔 겪은 '창녕WFC'돌풍 일으킬까" [After the pain of one team disbanding, can 'Changnyeong WFC' make a splash?]. Gyeongnam Domin Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ a b Lee, Jong-won (26 April 2018). "한국여자축구(WK)리그 신생팀 창녕WFC, 30일 대망의 홈 개막 경기" [Korean women's football (WK) league new team Changnyeong WFC hosts long-awaited first ever home match on 30th]. Gyeongnam News Today (in Korean). Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ Hong, Jae-ryong (8 June 2020). "창녕WFC의 WK리그 3년차 도전은 계속된다" [Now in its 3rd year in the WK League, Changnyeong WFC continues to strive]. Gyeongnam Domin News (in Korean). Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ "2020 WK League". Soccerway. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ "2021 WK League". Soccerway. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ Choi, Dae-young (28 October 2024). "창녕WFC, 해체 위기에 처하다…WK리그 8팀 체제의 불안정성" [Changnyeong WFC faces prospect of disbandment... Uncertainty over future of WK League's 8 team structure]. Fomos (in Korean). Retrieved 19 February 2025 – via Sporki.
- ^ Jung, Sang-mok (27 November 2024). "한숨 돌린 WK리그...관심 없이는 여전히 춥다" [WK League takes a sigh of relief, but it's always cold if nobody is interested]. News Gyeongnam (in Korean). Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ Jung, Sang-mok (28 October 2024). "창녕WFC 해체설 '모락모락'…흔들리는 여자축구 8팀 체제" [Rumours of disbandment swirl around Changnyeong WFC... women's football 8-team system in danger]. News Gyeongnam (in Korean). Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ Seol, Ha-eun (27 October 2025). "한WK리그 창녕WFC, 강진군으로 연고지 이전…첫 전남 연고 구단" [WK League's Changnyeong WFC relocates to Gangjin County, becoming the first Jeonnam-based club.]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Retrieved 1 February 2026.
- ^ Jung, Sung-in (8 March 2023). "WK리그 앞둔 창녕WFC '늘 결승처럼'" [Ahead of the WK League, Changnyeong FC 'always play as if its the final']. Gyeongnam Domin Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ Kim, Dong-min (24 July 2024). "'전국여자축구선수권대회' 26일 개막...4년 연속 창녕서 개최" [National Women's Football Tournament opens on 26th.. hosted in Changnyeong for fourth year running]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ "2026 SQUAD NUMBERS". Gangjin Swans WFC. 9 February 2026. Retrieved 6 March 2026 – via Instagram.
- ^ "2026 시즌을 이끌어갈 스텝진을 아래와 같이 소개합니다" [Here are the staff members who will lead the 2026 season] (in Korean). Gangjin Swans WFC. 24 February 2026. Retrieved 6 March 2026 – via Instagram.
- ^ "Gangjin Swans appoint Go Hyunho as manager". WK League News. 27 February 2026. Retrieved 6 March 2026.