This study aimed to identify structural problems in the Korean amateur football division league (K5-K7) and propose development strategies based on in-depth interviews with field experts. A qualitative research design was adopted, involving semi-structured and unstructured interviews with 11 participants who had at least five years of experience in amateur football or over ten years of related research experience. The collected data were analysed using thematic analysis. The results revealed four key structural issues: (1) inconsistency and lack of standardisation in league and match operations, (2) structural limitations of the promotion and relegation system, (3) financial and infrastructural constraints, and (4) insufficient governance and communication among stakeholders. These issues were found to be interrelated rather than independent, indicating systemic challenges within the amateur football structure. Based on these findings, this study suggests the need for standardised operational guidelines, a gradual and context-sensitive implementation of promotion and relegation, the establishment of sustainable financial models, and the development of collaborative governance structures. This research provides empirical evidence from field practitioners and offers practical and policy-relevant implications for improving the sustainability of the Korean football division system.
Choi et al. (Thu,) studied this question.