Below the 38th is a football and travel project following the game across South Korea — from K League 1 to the lower divisions, one stadium at a time.

We visit matches in person, travel across the country, and tell the stories of Korean football from the stands rather than from a desk.

Andrew, Luke, and Mike have been living in Korea for a combined 40 years. We are dedicated K League fans who travel the length and breadth of the country to watch football at all levels, and it is this experience we want to share with you; our wonderful readers.

Our name? The 38th parallel divides North Korea from South Korea. We aim to take you to every stadium below the 38th.

Andrew

I am from Ireland, and love groundhopping. I’m not as wedded to my K League club as my esteemed colleagues, so I’ll go wherever the story is. Trains, running tracks, bare concrete stands, and Korean floodlights excite me far more than the 90 minutes.

Follow me on Instagram: @sthkorea_stadiums

Luke:

I’m a British football fan who has been following Incheon United’s journey up and down the country since 2013. As much as I enjoy visiting new stadiums and celebrating three points, I also enjoy meeting other fans to discuss our shared experiences. Hopefully, this project can bring a little of that to you.

Follow me on Instagram: @LiveFromIncheon

Mike

I have spent much of my footballing life in Korea following teams in the lower divisions. I set up Ansan Foreign Supporters Club many moons ago, and have consequently seen far more second-tier football than is perhaps recommended. As a result I have an eye for the narratives and stories, and the genuine sincerity of lower league fans, and cover K2, K3 and WK League.

Follow me on Instagram: @mikeogc