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 will close on 31 July 2025.[citation needed]
Competition format
The regular season will be played over 33 rounds. Fixtures were officially published on February 5, 2025 via the league's Instagram account.[1][2]
The winner of the regular league season will be crowned champions without a playoff and gain automatic promotion. Originally the 2nd-placed would be able to gain promotion via a single playoff match against the 14th-place team in the 2025 K3 League.[3][4]. But in September, the Korean Football Association announced a change. Under the new rules, there will be no automatic relegation for the last placed team in the K3 League. Instead, the last placed team will enter the promotion-relegation playoff using the same format as before. This decision was made to adjust for the two teams that will leave the K3 League to join K League 2 in 2026. [5]
Teams
Eleven teams are competing in the 2025 season.
Following the example of K League, match day squads have increased from 18 to 20 players. Three or more players must be Korean nationals aged 23 or younger, with one included in the starting eleven. The Asian player quota has been removed, and teams may now include 4 foreign players of any nationality.[6]
Seoul Nowon United FC - Suspended for one year before the start of the 2025 season after they were unable to reach an agreement with Nowon-gu to extend their use of Nowon Madeul Stadium. With no league to play in, the team decided to disband.[11]
Change Name
FC Chungju relocated to Yeoncheon and changed their name to Yeoncheon FC.[12]
Pyeongchang United FC squad included arguably the most notable signing of the season, Hwang Mun-gi, who was signed on loan from Gangwon FC while he did his military/civil service. He was a first team regular in K League 1 with recent national team appearances.
The only foreigner to make an appearance in the league so far has been Isaac Osei, playing for Daegu FC's Reserve team, Daegu B.
Namyangju FC started the season well, going 9 matches undefeated and earning 6 wins from those 9 matches. Pyeongchang United FC too started well, going undefeated for the first 8 matches. Newcomers Gijang United FC had a respectable start with 1 win, 1 draw and 2 losses, while fellow newcomers Sejong SA FC had to wait 9 before earning their first victory.
By mid-season, the league had taken shape. Namyangju was still leading the way, with Dangjin close behind in the second automatic promotion spot. Jinju and Pyeonchang United were close, holding strong in the playoff position. League newcomers Gijang United FC and Sejong SA FC had found their feel and was starting to challenge for mid table positions. Although no technically newcomers, Yeoncheon FC were similarly finding their feet. Seoul Jungnang FC was still struggling with 12 losses from their first 17 matches. Their draw against Gijang and win against Pyeongtaek Citizen FC were forfeit when it was discovered that they had fielded an ineligible player.
↑ Korea Football Association [@thekfa_k3k4league]; (5 February 2025). "2025 K4리그 일정표"[2025 K4 League schedule] (in Korean). Retrieved 6 February 2025– via Instagram.
↑ 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.
↑ Lee, Hyeong-ho (20 February 2025). "2025 K4리그 22일 개막…11개 팀 9개월간 경쟁"[2025 K4 League Opens on the 22nd. 11 Teams Compete for 9 Months.]. Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
↑ Lee, Hyeong-ho (27 February 2025). "K3리그, 2025시즌 3월 1일 개막…15개팀 경쟁"[K3 League, 2025 season opens on March 1st. 15 teams compete.]. Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
↑ Park, Geon-do (8 September 2025). "K3·K4리그 승강제 방식 바뀌었다... 2025시즌부터 적용"[K3 and K4 League promotion and relegation systems have been changed, taking effect starting in the 2025 season.]. Star News. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
↑ Lee, Hyeong-ho (20 February 2025). "2025 K4리그 22일 개막…11개 팀 9개월간 경쟁"[2025 K4 League Opens on the 22nd. 11 Teams Compete for 9 Months.]. Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
↑ 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.
↑ Im, Soon-taek (23 February 2025). "기장군민축구단 2025 K4리그 첫 경기서 0-1로 패배"[Gijang United F.C. lose 1-0 in first match of 2025 K4 League]. Herald Business (in Korean). Retrieved 26 February 2025.
1 2 Kim, Jung-gyu (12 November 2024). "세종SA축구단 창단, 내년부터 K4리그 참가한다"[Sejong SA FC founded, will participate in K4 League from next year]. Voices of Sejong (in Korean). Retrieved 6 February 2025.
↑ Lee, Yu-bin (15 January 2025). "'2024 K4리그 득점왕+도움왕' 배출한 서울노원 UTD, 해체 선언"[Seoul Nowon United, home of the '2024 K4 League top goalscorer and top assister', announces disbandment]. Korea Entertainment and Sports (in Korean). Retrieved 6 February 2025.
↑ The promotion relegation structure was changed for the 2025 season due to Hwaseong FC being promoted to K League 2.
↑ Yoon, Jin-man (29 May 2025). ""부정선수 투입은 몰수패다" K4리그 중랑 미승인 선수 논란에 관한 협회의 판단"[ntroducing an illegal player is a forfeiture" The association's decision on the controversy over the unapproved player in K4 League Jungrang] (in Korean). Sports Joseon. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
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