2025 K3 League

Last updated

K3 League
Season2025
Dates1 March – 8 November 2025
Champions Gimhae FC (2nd title)
PromotedGimhae FC
Paju Citizen (after switched to Professional team)
Top goalscorerSeong Jeong-yun (14 goals)
← 2024
2026 →

The 2025 K3 League is the sixth season of the semi-professional K3 League. It is the third tier of men's football in South Korea.

Contents

The pre-season winter transfer window opened on 1 January 2025 and will close on 24 March 2025. The summer transfer window will open on 20 June 2025 and close on 31 July 2025.[ citation needed ]

Overview

On 11 August 2025, Gimhae FC and Paju Citizen were approved to join K League 2 from the 2026 season after switching to a professional team in the 4th meeting of the K League Board, this is the last play in the third tier.

Competition format

The regular season will be played over 30 rounds (28 rounds), beginning on 1 March 2025. [1] [2] Due to the odd number of teams following Hwaseong FC's move to K League 2, each round will have one team on a bye. [2] The winner of the regular league will be crowned as champions without a playoff, and the 15th-placed team will be automatically relegated to the K4 League. The 14th-placed team will play in a promotion-relegation playoff against the 2nd-placed team in the 2025 K4 League. [3]

On 8 September 2025, the 2025 K3-K4 promotion-relegation system was changed and the lowest ranked team in the K3 League will advance to the K3-K4 League promotion/relegation playoffs instead of being automatically relegated.

Teams

Fifteen teams will compete in the 2025 season. Teams must include at least three U-23 players in their matchday squad, and at least one of those players must be in the starting line-up. Teams are limited to four players of foreign nationality. [3]

Team changes

Joined K League 2

Promoted from K4 League

Relegated to K4 League

Stadiums and locations

TeamHome cityHome groundCapacity
Busan Transportation Corporation Busan Gudeok Stadium 4,549
Changwon FC Changwon Changwon Sports Park 27,085
Chuncheon FC Chuncheon Chuncheon Songam Sports Town Auxiliary Stadium 500
Daejeon Korail Daejeon Daejeon World Cup Stadium Auxiliary Pitch 478
Gangneung Citizen Gangneung Gangneung Stadium 3,000
Gyeongju KHNP Gyeongju Gyeongju Civic Stadium 12,199
Gimhae FC Gimhae Gimhae Sports Complex15,066
Jeonbuk N Wanju Wanju Public Stadium3,377
FC Mokpo Mokpo Mokpo International Football Center 9,132
Paju Citizen Paju Paju Stadium 25,000
Pocheon Citizen Pocheon Pocheon Sports Complex7,000
Siheung Citizen Siheung Jeongwang Stadium1,000
Ulsan Citizen Ulsan Ulsan Stadium 19,431
Yangpyeong FC Yangpyeong Yangpyeong Sports Complex6,300
Yeoju FC Yeoju Yeoju Sports Complex10,180


Foreign players

The number of foreign players is restricted to three per team, or four per team if one player is from an AFC country. [2]

ClubPlayer 1Player 2Player 3AFC playerFormer player(s)
Busan Transportation Corporation Flag of Germany.svg Jan Rabens
Changwon City Flag of Brazil.svg Felipe Fonseca (Loan)
Chuncheon Citizen Flag of Brazil.svg Felipe Machado Flag of Brazil.svg Klysman Flag of South Sudan.svg Martin Sawi Flag of Japan.svg Reo Nishiguchi
FC Mokpo Flag of Nigeria.svg Uzo Michael
Gangneung Citizen Flag of Brazil.svg Lucão Flag of Brazil.svg Careca
Gimhae FC Flag of Japan.svg Kaisei Ishii
Gyeongju KHNP Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Ribeiro Flag of Brazil.svg Denzel Flag of Brazil.svg Camilo
Paju Citizen Flag of Nigeria.svg Yuri Flag of Nigeria.svg Matheus Devellard
Siheung Citizen Flag of Brazil.svg Sandy Flag of Japan.svg Haruto Tanaka
Yangpyeong FC Flag of Brazil.svg Richard Luca Flag of Brazil.svg Joaninha


League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation
1 Gimhae FC (C, P)2717734520+2558Promotion to K League 2 [a]
2 Siheung Citizen 2716654325+1854
3 Pocheon Citizen 2715754628+1852
4 Daejeon Korail 2713774631+1546
5 Gyeongju KHNP 2712873227+544
6 Busan TC 27142113531+444
7 Yangpyeong FC 27134102721+643
8 Changwon FC 2711792823+540
9 Paju Citizen (P)27106112730−336Promotion to K League 2 [a]
10 Yeoju FC 28106123135−436
11 Gangneung Citizen 2787123844−631
12 Chuncheon FC 2793152736−930
13 Ulsan Citizen 2755171836−1820
14 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors N 2755172749−2220
15 FC Mokpo (Q)2734201751−3413Qualification for Promotion-Relegation Play-off [8]
Updated to match(es) played on 2 November 2025. Source: JoinKFA Sofascore
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Notes:
  1. 1 2 Tentative. Teams passed the initial assessment and a final decision will be made in January 2026 based on their ability to meet K League 2 Licence requirements.

Results

Home \ AwayBTCCWCCDJKGNCGHGJKJBNMPPJCPCCSHCUSCYPYJ
Busan TC—2–10–11–22–00–12–12–12–11–22–10–12–10–01–1
Changwon—2–10–02–10–10–03–10–00–11–21–22–11–02–1
Chuncheon0–32–4—0–11–20–11–03–13–20–30–11–20–01–01–2
Daejeon Korail2–01–10–1—1–10–02–00–12–02–02–33–01–03–3
Gangneung Citizen2–11–02–4—1–11–33–13–11–12–22–23–11–1
Gimhae5–12–13–13–02–0—1–32–24–02–01–21–10–01–1
Gyeongju KHNP1–00–00–02–12–13–1—2–12–01–10–32–30–00–1
Jeonbuk N0–10–22–11–20–1—1–31–11–30–30–12–12–4
Mokpo1–30–23–22–10–10–11–1—0–20–00–41–20–20–3
Paju Citizen0–10–00–11–22–11–20–04–02–0—0–40–41–10–12–0
Pocheon Citizen3–11–01–02–63–11–13–31–11–13–0—2–30–01–02–0
Siheung Citizen0–32–01–01–10–11–20–01–03–11–1—2–10–00–1
Ulsan Citizen0–10–11–31–21–00–13–40–31–01–20–1—0–10–1
Yangpyeong2–00–02–11–22–10–20–12–12–13–11–22–02–0—1–0
Yeoju1–31–20–00–31–10–21–02–03–10–21–01–21–20–1—
Updated to match(es) played on 2 November 2025. Source: JoinKFA Sofascore
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Korea Football Association [@thekfa_k3k4league]; (5 February 2025). "2025 K4리그 일정표" [2025 K4 League schedule] (in Korean). Retrieved 6 February 2025– via Instagram.
  2. 1 2 3 Ko, Sung-hwan (27 February 2025). "'15개팀 참가' 2025 K3리그, 3월 1일 개막...8개월 대장정 막 올린다" [With 15 participating teams, the 2025 K3 League begins its 8-month odyssey on 1st March]. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  3. 1 2 Lee, Young-ho (27 February 2025). "K3리그, 2025시즌 3월 1일 개막... 15개팀 경쟁" [15 teams to battle it out in 2025 K3 League, starting on 1 March]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  4. ↑ Kwon, Jae-min (1 December 2024). "한국프로축구연맹 이사회, 화성FC 회원 가입 승인...연맹 권한 범위도 확대" [KFA board approves Hwaseong FC's membership, expands scope of authority]. Sports Dong-a (in Korean). Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  5. ↑ Bae, Jin-nam (13 January 2025). "화성FC 합류로 K리그2 14개 구단 체제...권오갑 총재 4선도 확정(종합)" [With Hwaseong FC's inclusion, K League 2 has 14 teams, Kwon Oh-gap's fourth term confirmed (roundup)]. Yonhap News (in Korean). Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  6. ↑ Lee, Young-ho (9 January 2025). "K리그1 전북, 2군팀 명칭 변경..."N팀으로 불러주세요"" [K League 1's Jeonbuk changes reserves team name... "Call us the N team"]. Yonhap News (in Korean). Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  7. ↑ Kim, Ga-eul (21 January 2025). "대구FC B팀 사령탑으로 새 도전, 박원재 감독 "선수들 열심히 해줘 감사...잘 성장시키겠다"" [Park Won-jae's new challenge as Daegu FC B head coach: "I'm grateful for the players who work hard... I must help them to develop well"]. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  8. ↑ The promotion relegation structure was changed for the 2025 season due to Hwaseong FC being promoted to K League 2.
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