Defending champion Jeonbuk to face Incheon in FA Cup semifinals

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors' Song Min-kyu, right, celebrates with Jun Amano during an FA Cup match against Gwangju FC at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, North Jeolla on June 28. [YONHAP]

The 2023 Korean FA Cup semifinal draw is set with defending champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors facing Incheon United and the Pohang Steelers taking on Jeju United on Aug. 9.

This year’s FA Cup is a chance for Jeonbuk to surpass the Suwon Samsung Bluewings and become the first-ever team to win six FA Cup trophies. The two are the winningest teams at the moment with five titles apiece.

Jeonbuk have been dominant in this year’s FA Cup, despite struggling in the early days of the K League season. They managed a 4-0 victory against Gwangju FC in the quarterfinal.

The defending champions have also improved their form in the K League since new manager Dan Petrescu took the helm last month, sitting in fourth place on the table.

Incheon United, on the other hand, have never won the FA Cup and sit in 10th place. They have not beaten Jeonbuk this season, recording a 2-0 loss in the league in April, before managing a goalless draw in May.

The Pohang Steelers have four titles and have been on a good run in the league, sitting in second place.

Jeju, who are also yet to secure an FA Cup title, lost 4-2 to the Steelers on Sunday after a dramatic comeback where the Pohang side grabbed the victory after scoring two goals in the space of one minute.

Both single-match semifinals will take place on Aug. 9, with the home-and-away format final to be held on Nov. 2 and Dec. 4.

Jeju will play the Steelers at Jeju World Cup Stadium, while Jeonbuk will take on Incheon at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, North Jeolla.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]