Striker Kim Dong-hyun, who has made six appearance for the national team, is the most high profile of the group, who are alleged to have accepted sums of around 100,000 US dollars from brokers operating on behalf of illegal betting sites based in South Korea and China to affect the outcome of games.

The 10 have all been charged by state prosecutors and face a possible five-year prison sentence.

"We made the decision, determined that this would be the first and the last match-fixing scandal in the league," said Kwak Young-Cheol, head of the K-League's disciplinary committee.

"Players must keep in mind that they will be kicked out of the sport permanently if they get caught committing wrongdoing."

Kwak also announced any player not convicted by criminal courts would have his ban reviewed.

An 11th, Kim Jung-gyum of Pohang Steelers, was given a five-year ban for gambling on his own team's game.

Eight of the players are from Daejeon Citizen, with one each from Gwangju FC and Sangju Sangmu.

The teams were also handed punishments. Daejeon will lose around USD 250,000 as the club's share from the revenue of Sports Toto, South Korea's licensed sports lottery, will be cut by 30% this year. Gwangju and Sangju will be hit with a 10% reduction.

On May 30, former Jeonbuk Motors player Jeong Jong-kwan was found dead in an apparent suicide, leaving a note that reportedly detailed his involvement.