Teams are being sought for the Ulsan Cup, an annual tournament for expat teams from across Korea.

The cup will be held May 23-24, with 16 expatriate teams battling through a total of 46 matches to claim the title of Korea’s top expat soccer team.

The tournament is run by Won Shot Wanderers FC, an expatriate team in the city, the Ulsan League, an amateur league in the city, and with support from the Ulsan city government.

Philip Heo, chairman of Won Shot Wanderers said the tournament was the most competitive amateur tournament in Korea.

“We invite good teams from across the Korean Peninsula,” he said. “We cannot say that it is a professional level but a few players used to play professional football.”

He said that as always champions would come back this year, but a successful title defense was rare.

“The defending champions are pretty strong, but it changes every year. For example, one team won the title, but did not qualify from the group stage,” he said.

“Only one team has won the title twice. It is always competitive, every year.”

The first Ulsan Cup was held in 2008, when Busan United took the prize. Since then it has been won by teams from Seoul; Daegu; Ulsan; Jeonju, North Jeolla Province; and Suwon, Gyeonggi Province.

The tournament runs over two days, with group-stage matches on the first day. After that, the top eight teams compete through knockout rounds for the cup. The other eight teams play each other in a plate tournament.

Participation costs 350,000 won per team and entry to the cup is on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information email ulsancup@gmail.com or visit the Ulsan Cup 2015 Facebook page.

By Paul Kerry (paulkerry@heraldcorp.com)