The Busan I'cons football team was founded in 1983 in the city of Busan by the Daewoo corporation. Originally called Daewoo, the side finished second in the 1983 K-League Championship behind winners Hallelujah. The club professionalized at the end of 1983 and for the 1984 season changed their name to Daewoo Royals.
The newly-named team lifted the Championship in 1984, and again in 1987 & 1991. At the end of 1995 when K-League sides were 'localizing', they adopted the name Busan Daewoo Royals and in 1997 lifted their fourth Korean championship.
Busan I'Park looked to be a team on a roll in the AFC Champions League.
Few would have predicted that scoreline would be repeated in the first leg of the semi-final in Busan's Gudeok Stadium, especially when the teams went into the dressing rooms of the ageing, municipally-owned arena at half-time with the score goalless.
At this point Busan's dreams of continental glory looked to be slipping away but the team, which won the first stage of the K-League in July, didn't take the deep breath that was necessary and overextended themselves trying to get back in the game.
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