Founded in 1989, the Ilhwa Chunma club is the most successful K-League clubs in terms of Championship victories with six league crowns. Controversy has followed the club however because of the Unification Movement ownership.
The club began life playing at the Dongdaemun Stadium in Seoul, but after winning their third consecutive title in 1995 the league officials declared that all of the three sides based in the capital had to leave, so the club moved down to Cheonan.
Several unsuccessful seasons followed, and when they finished bottom of the league for the second time in 1999, the club moved up to the Seoul satellite city of Seongnam and renamed themselves Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma. The move worked out perfectly, as the rejuvenated club went on to win the 2001, 2002 and 2003 K-League championships.
A disappointing 2004 campaign saw them meekly relinquish their title, but they reached the final of the Asian Champions League where, despite winning the away leg 3-1, they lost the home leg 5-0 to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad and lost the tie 6-3 on aggregate.
[edit] Club Honors
- Champions: 1993, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003
- FA Cup: 1999
- Korean Super Cup: 2002
- Adidas Cup: 1992, 2002
- Hauzen Cup: 2004
- Asian Champions Cup: 1996
- Asian Super Cup: 1996
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