Asan Mugunghwa Football Club (Korean: 아산 무궁화 프로축구단) was a South Korean football club based in Asan. The club's players were South Korean professional footballers who were serving their mandatory two-year military duty.
Contents
History
Founding and Police FC era
Founded as National Police Department FC in 1961, the club changed its name to Seoul Police Department FC in 1962 then back to its original name in 1967. During its history, it won a number of competitions such as the Korean President's Cup National Football Tournament and the Korea Semi-Professional Football League in the 1960s before being dissolved in November 1967. The club was reinstated in 1996, and it partly consisted of players serving their compulsory two-year military duty, similar to the other military club, Sangju Sangmu.
Professionalization and Ansan era (2013–2016)
In 2013, Police FC joined the K League Challenge.
In February 2014, Police FC was based in Ansan (Ansan Wa~ Stadium) and renamed as Ansan Police FC.
In January 2016, the club's name was changed to Ansan Mugunghwa FC. Mugunghwa is the Korean word for the flowering plant hibiscus syriacus, which is South Korea's national flower, a profound cultural emblem and a symbol of the Korean Police.
Asan era (2017–2019)
After the 2016 season, Ansan Mugunghwa moved to the unrelated Asan, becoming Asan Mugunghwa FC. Per K League policies, the new team did not take over the records and history of the previous one and was registered as a different team. Asan Mugunghwa were disbanded in 2019 to make way for another team, Chungnam Asan FC, which have no ties to the police at all.
Club name history
1996–2013: Police FC
2014–2015: Ansan Police FC
2016: Ansan Mugunghwa FC
2017–2019: Asan Mugunghwa FC
Honours
Asan Mugunghwa (2017–2019)
K League 2
Winners (1): 2018
Ansan Mugunghwa (2014–2016)
K League Challenge
Winners (1): 2016
Police FC (1996–2013)
K League Challenge
Runners-up (1): 2013
National Semi-Professional Football League
Winners (1): 2002 Fall