2025 K League 1

Last updated

Hana Bank
K League 1
Season 2025
Dates15 February - 30 November 2025
← 2024
2026 →
All statistics correct as of 10 January 2025.

The 2025 K League 1, also known as the Hana 1Q K League 1 for sponsorship reasons, will be the 43rd season of the top division of professional football in South Korea, and the twelfth season of the K League 1. Ulsan HD defended their title for the third consecutive year. [1]

Contents

Teams

Team changes

FC Anyang were promoted from the 2024 K League 2 for 1st time in club history. [2] Incheon United was relegated to 2025 K League 2 in the club's first absence from the top flight of Korean football. [3]

Increase2.svg Promoted from K League 2 Decrease2.svg Relegated to K League 2

Locations

2025 K League 1
Invisible Square.svg
Invisible Square.svg
Mapscaleline.svg
15km
10miles

The following twelve clubs are competing in the 2025 K League 1. [4]

TeamCity/ProvinceAbbreviation
Daegu FC Daegu Daegu
Daejeon Hana Citizen Daejeon Daejeon
FC Anyang Anyang Anyang
Gangwon FC Gangwon Gangwon
Gimcheon Sangmu Gimcheon Gimcheon
Gwangju FC Gwangju Gwangju
Jeju SK Jeju Jeju
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Jeonbuk Jeonbuk
Pohang Steelers Pohang Pohang
FC Seoul Seoul Seoul
Suwon FC Suwon Suwon FC
Ulsan HD Ulsan Ulsan

Stadiums

Daegu FC Daejeon Hana Citizen Gangwon FC
DGB Daegu Bank Park Daejeon World Cup Stadium Chuncheon Songam Leports Town Gangneung Stadium
Capacity: 12,415Capacity: 40,903Capacity: 20,000Capacity: 22,333
Daegu DGB Bank Park 2019.jpg Daejeon World Cup Stadium.JPG Chuncheon Songam Sports Town pitch.jpg Gangneung Stadium from away end.jpg
FC Anyang Gimcheon Sangmu Gwangju FC Jeju SK
Anyang Stadium Gimcheon Stadium Gwangju Football Stadium Jeju World Cup Stadium
Capacity: 17,143Capacity: 25,000Capacity: 10,007Capacity: 29,791
Anyang-stadium.jpg Gimcheon Stadium interior.jpg Gwangju World Cup Stadium.jpg Jejuwcstadium.jpg
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Pohang Steelers FC Seoul Suwon FC
Jeonju World Cup Stadium Pohang Steel Yard Seoul World Cup Stadium Suwon Stadium
Capacity: 42,477Capacity: 17,443Capacity: 66,704Capacity: 11,808
Jeonju World Cup Stadium 2016.jpg Pohang080413 1.jpg AFC Champions League Final 1st leg.jpg 2009-01-24 - Suwon Civil Stadium from Royal Palace.jpg
Ulsan HD
Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
Capacity: 44,102
Munsu 20121110 204310 5.jpg

Personnel and sponsoring

TeamManagerKit manufacturerMain sponsorOther sponsor(s)
FC Anyang Flag of South Korea.svg Ryu Byeong-hoonV-EXXOsang Healthcare
List
Daegu FC Flag of South Korea.svg Park Chang-hyun Goal Studio iM Bank
List
Daejeon Hana Citizen Flag of South Korea.svg Hwang Sun-hong Puma Hana Bank
List
Gangwon FC Flag of South Korea.svg Chung Kyung-ho Fila High1 Resort
List
Gimcheon Sangmu Flag of South Korea.svg Chung Jung-yong Kelme Happy Gimcheon
Gwangju FC Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Jung-hyo Goal Studio Kwangju Bank
List
    • Front:None
    • Back:None
    • Sleeves: Parangsae Eye Clinic, Gwangju City
    • Shorts: Namhai Honnête
Jeju SK Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Hak-bum Fila SK Energy
List
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Flag of Uruguay.svg Gus Poyet Adidas Hyundai N
Pohang Steelers Flag of South Korea.svg Park Tae-ha Puma POSCO
List
FC Seoul Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Gi-dong Pro-Specs Xi (home)
GS Caltex (away)
List
Suwon FC Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Eun-jung Hummel Suwon Special City
List
Ulsan HD Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Pan-gon Adidas HD Hyundai

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyTableReplaced byDate of appointment
Gangwon FC Flag of South Korea.svg Yoon Jong-hwan [5] End of Contract30 November 2024Pre-season Flag of South Korea.svg Chung Kyung-ho [6] 6 December 2024
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Do-heon [7] Mutual Termination16 December 2024Pre-season Flag of Uruguay.svg Gus Poyet [8] 24 December 2024

Foreign players

The number of allowed foreign players was kept strictly to six per team but could field at most five foreign players at any given time. [9]

As a military-owned team, Gimcheon Sangmu are not allowed to sign any foreign players.

North Korean player is deemed as a native player by South Korean nationality law. Starting in 2025, K League will have a homegrown system and players of foreign nationality who have grown up in Korea will be considered domestic players when registering as rookies.

Players in bold were registered during the mid-season transfer window.

TeamPlayer 1Player 2Player 3Player 4Player 5Player 6Homegrown foreignerFormer player(s) [a]
FC Anyang Flag of Brazil.svg Bruno Mota Flag of Brazil.svg Eduardo Flag of Brazil.svg Matheus Oliveira Flag of Brazil.svg Yago Flag of the Netherlands.svg Thomas Oude Kotte
Daegu FC Flag of Brazil.svg Bruno Lamas Flag of Brazil.svg Caio Marcelo Flag of Brazil.svg Césinha Flag of Brazil.svg Edgar Flag of Japan.svg Kyohei Yoshino
Daejeon Hana Citizen Flag of Australia (converted).svg Aaron Calver Flag of Azerbaijan.svg Anton Kryvotsyuk Flag of Brazil.svg Kelvin Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Bobsin Flag of Japan.svg Masatoshi Ishida Flag of Latvia.svg Vladislavs Gutkovskis
Gangwon FC Flag of Brazil.svg Vitor Gabriel Flag of Brazil.svg Welinton Júnior Flag of Croatia.svg Franko Kovačević Flag of Croatia.svg Mario Ćuže Flag of Montenegro.svg Marko Tući
Gwangju FC Flag of Albania.svg Jasir Asani Flag of Brazil.svg Bruno Oliveira Flag of Brazil.svg Gabriel Tigrão Flag of Brazil.svg João Magno Flag of Brazil.svg Reis
Jeju SK Flag of Brazil.svg Italo Flag of Brazil.svg Yuri
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Flag of Brazil.svg Hernandes Rodrigues Flag of Brazil.svg Tiago Orobó Flag of Ghana.svg Nana Boateng Flag of Italy.svg Andrea Compagno
Pohang Steelers Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jonathan Aspropotamitis [10] Flag of Brazil.svg Jorge Luiz Flag of Brazil.svg Juninho Rocha Flag of Brazil.svg Oberdan Flag of Brazil.svg Wanderson
FC Seoul Flag of Brazil.svg Lucas Rodrigues Flag of Brazil.svg Willyan Flag of England.svg Jesse Lingard Flag of Jordan.svg Yazan Al-Arab Flag of Ghana.svg Gbato Seloh Samuel
Suwon FC Flag of Brazil.svg Anderson Oliveira Flag of Colombia.svg Pablo Sabbag Flag of France.svg Leroy Abanda Flag of Norway.svg Mohamed Ofkir
Ulsan HD Flag of Brazil.svg Matheus Sales Flag of Brazil.svg Yago Cariello Flag of Georgia.svg Giorgi Arabidze Flag of Sweden.svg Darijan Bojanić Flag of Sweden.svg Gustav Ludwigson Flag of Venezuela.svg Matías Lacava Flag of Cyprus.svg Ioannis Pittas
  1. ↑ Left their respective clubs during the mid-season transfer window.

League table

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation [a]
1 FC Anyang 00000000Qualification for Champions League Elite league stage
2 Daegu FC 00000000Qualification for Champions League Elite play-off round
3 Daejeon Hana Citizen 00000000Qualification for Champions League Two group stage
4 Gangwon FC 00000000
5 Gwangju FC 00000000
6 Jeju United 00000000
7 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 00000000
8 Pohang Steelers 00000000
9 FC Seoul 00000000
10 Suwon FC 00000000Qualification for relegation play-offs
11 Ulsan HD 00000000
12 Gimcheon Sangmu [b] 00000000Relegation to K League 2
First match(es) will be played: 15 February 2025. Source: Soccerway K League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference; 4) Wins; 5) Head-to-head points
Notes:
  1. ↑ Teams played each other three times (33 matches), before the league was split into two groups, the top six and the bottom six.
  2. ↑ Military-owned team Gimcheon Sangmu cannot qualify for AFC competitions. Additionally, they will be relegated to K League 2 regardless of their final position by moving their stronghold the next season.

Positions by matchday

  Leaders, qualification for Champions League Elite league stage
  Qualification for Champions League Elite play-off round
  Qualification for Champions League Two group stage
  Qualification for relegation play-offs
  Relegation to K League 2

Round 1–33

Team ╲ Round
First match(es) will be played on 15 February 2025. Source: K League

Results

Matches 1–22

Teams played each other twice, once at home, once away.

Home \ Away AYG DGU DHC GWN GCS GJU JJS JHM PHS SEL SWN USH
FC Anyang — a
Daegu FC —
Daejeon Hana Citizen —
Gangwon FC —
Gimcheon Sangmu —
Gwangju FC —
Jeju SK —
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors — a a
Pohang Steelers — a
FC Seoul a a —
Suwon FC —
Ulsan HD a a —
First match(es) will be played: 15 February 2025. Source: K League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matchdays 1-11

Matchday 1 (15-16 February)
Pohang Steelers v Daejeon Hana Citizen
Jeju SK FC v FC Seoul
Gwangju FC v Suwon FC
Ulsan HD FC v FC Anyang
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors v Gimcheon Sangmu FC
Daegu FC v Gangwon FC
Matchday 2 (22-23 February)
Jeju SKvGimcheon Sangmu
Jeju World Cup Stadium, Seogwipo, Jeju Province
FC SeoulvFC Anyang
Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul
Daegu FCvSuwon FC
iM Bank Park, Daegu
Daejeon Hana CitizenvUlsan HD
Daejeon World Cup Stadium, Daejeon
Jeonbuk Hyundai MotorsvGwangju FC
Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju
Gangwon FCvPohang Steelers
Chuncheon Song-am Sports Town, Chuncheon
Matchday 3 (1-3 March)
Ulsan HDvJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium, Ulsan
Pohang SteelersvDaegu FC
Pohang Steel Yard, Pohang
Gwangju FCvFC Anyang
Gwangju Football Stadium, Gwangju
Daejeon Hana CitizenvSuwon FC
Daejeon World Cup Stadium, Daejeon
Gangwon FCvJeju SK
Chuncheon Song-am Sports Town, Chuncheon
FC SeoulvGimncheon Sangmu
Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul
Matchday 4 (8-9 March)
Suwon FCvFC Seoul
Suwon Sports Complex, Suwon
Daegu FCvDaejeon Hana Citizen
iM Bank Park, Daegu
FC AnyangvGimcheon Sangmu
Anyang Stadium, Anyang
Ulsan HDvJeju SK
Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium, Ulsan
Gwangju FCvPohang Steelers
Gwangju Football Stadium, Gwangju
Jeonbuk Hyundai MotorsvGangwon FC
Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju
Matchday 5 (15-16 March)
Jeju SKvDaejeon Hana Citizen
Jeju World Cup Stadium, Seogwipo, Jeju Province
Gangwon FCvFC Seoul
Chuncheon Song-am Sports Town, Chuncheon
Daegu FCvFC Anyang
iM Bank Park, Daegu
Suwon FCvUlsan HD
Suwon Sports Complex, Suwon
Gimcheon SangmuvGwangju FC
Gimcheon Stadium, Gimcheon
Jeonbuk Hyundai MotorsvPohang Steelers
Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju
Matchday 6 (29-30 March)
FC SeoulvDaegu FC
Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul
Pohang SteelersvUlsan HD
Pohang Steel Yard, Pohang
Daejeon Hana CitizenvGwangju FC
Daejeon World Cup Stadium, Daejeon
Jeju SKvSuwon FC
Jeju World Cup Stadium, Seogwipo, Jeju Province
Gimcheon SangmuvGangwon FC
Gimcheon Stadium, Gimcheon
FC AnyangvJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Anyang Stadium, Anyang
Matchday 7 (5-6 April)
v
v
v
v
v
v
Matchday 8 (12-13 April)
v
v
v
v
v
v
Matchday 9 (19-20 April)
v
v
v
v
v
v
Matchday 10 (26-27 April)
v
v
v
v
v
v
Matchday 11 (2-3 May)
v
v
v
v
v
v

Matchdays 12-22

Matchday 12 (5-6 May)
v
v
v
v
v
v
Matchday 13 (10-11 May)
v
v
v
v
v
v
Matchday 14 (17-18 May)
v
v
v
v
v
v
Matchday 15 (23-25 May)
v
v
v
v
v
v
Matchday 16 (27-28 May)
v
v
v
v
v
v
Matchday 17 (31 May-1 June)
v
v
v
v
v
v
Matchday 18 (13-15 June)
v
v
v
v
v
v
Matchday 19 (17-18 June)
v
v
v
v
v
v
Matchday 20 (21-22 June)
v
v
v
v
v
v
Matchday 21 (27-29 June)
v
v
v
v
v
v
Matchday 22 (18-20 July)
v
v
v
v
v
v

Matches 23–33

Teams played each other once, either at home or away.

Home \ Away AYG DGU DHC GWN GCS GJU JJS JHM PHS SEL SWN USH
FC Anyang — a
Daegu FC —
Daejeon Hana Citizen —
Gangwon FC —
Gimcheon Sangmu —
Gwangju FC —
Jeju SK —
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors — a a
Pohang Steelers — a
FC Seoul a a —
Suwon FC —
Ulsan HD a a —
First match(es) will be played: 15 February 2025. Source: K League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matchdays 23-33

Matchday 23 (22-23 July)
v
v
v
v
v
v
Matchday 24 (26-27 July)
v
v
v
v
v
v
Matchday 25 (8-10 August)
v
v
v
v
v
v
Matchday 26 (15-17 August)
v
v
v
v
v
v
Matchday 27 (23-24 August)
v
v
v
v
v
v
Matchday 28 (30-31 August)
v
v
v
v
v
v
Matchday 29 (13-14 September)
v
v
v
v
v
v
Matchday 30 (20-21 September)
v
v
v
v
v
v
Matchday 31 (27-28 September)
v
v
v
v
v
v
Matchday 32 (3-5 October)
v
v
v
v
v
v
Matchday 33 (18 October)
v
v
v
v
v
v

Matches 34–38

Teams played each other once, either at home or away.

Final A

Matchdays 34-38
Matchday 34 (25-26 October)
v
v
v
Matchday 35 (1-2 November)
v
v
v
Matchday 36 (8-9 November)
v
v
v
Matchday 37 (22-23 November)
v
v
v
Matchday 38 (29-30 November)
v
v
v

Final B

Matchdays 34-38
Matchday 34 (25-26 October)
v
v
v
Matchday 35 (1-2 November)
v
v
v
Matchday 36 (8-9 November)
v
v
v
Matchday 37 (22-23 November)
v
v
v
Matchday 38 (29-30 November)
v
v
v

Relegation play-offs

The tenth-placed team and the eleventh-placed team will play against the play-off winners and the runners-up of the K League 2, respectively, in the relegation play-offs.

Statistics

Top goalscorers

RankPlayer [11] TeamGoals

Top assist providers

RankPlayer [11] TeamAssists

Hat-tricks

PlayerForAgainstResultDate

Attendance

Attendants who entered with free ticket are not counted.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Defending champions to take on runners-up to kick off 2023 K League football season". Yonhap News Agency . 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  2. ↑ "FC Anyang promoted to top football league for 1st time in club history".
  3. ↑ "Incheon United relegated to K League 2 for 1st time". 11 November 2024.
  4. ↑ "기록" [Records]. K League. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  5. ↑ "Yoon Jong-hwan departs Gangwon FC, Jeong Kyung-ho appointed manager".
  6. ↑ "Head coach Chung Kyung-ho has been appointed as the new head coach".
  7. ↑ "Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC Parts Ways with Coach Kim Do-heon".
  8. ↑ "Gus Poyet Appointed Head Coach of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors".
  9. ↑ Paik, Ji-hwan (6 December 2023). "K League to relax Asian quota in 2025, count 'homegrown' foreign players as Korean". Korea JoongAng Daily . Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  10. ↑ "Pohang Steelers has renewed its contract with Australian defender Aspro".
  11. 1 2 "K LEAGUE / Record".
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