2025 K League 1

Last updated

Hana Bank
K League 1
Season 2025
Dates15 February 2025 - 30 November 2025
Matches played180
Goals scored461 (2.56 per match)
Best Player342
Top goalscorer Jeon Jin-woo (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors)
(14 goals)
Biggest home winAnyang 4-0 Daegu (22 July 2025)
Gimcheon Sangmu 6-2 FC Seoul (17 August 2025)
Biggest away winGangwon 0-4 Gimcheon Sangmu (11 May 2025)
Highest scoringFC Seoul 3-2 Daegu (29 March 2025)
Ulsan HD 2-3 Daejeon Hana (1 April 2025)
Longest winning run3
Daejeon Hana Citizen
Longest unbeaten run24
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Longest winless run12
Daegu FC
Longest losing run7
Daegu FC
Highest attendance48,008
FC Seoul 0-1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (3 May 2025)
Lowest attendance1,533
Gimcheon Sangmu 1-1 Suwon FC (1 June 2025)
Total attendance1,982,862
Average attendance11,016
2024
2026
All statistics correct as of 21 September 2025.

The 2025 K League 1, also known as the Hana Bank K League 1 for sponsorship reasons, is the ongoing 43rd season of the top division of professional football in South Korea, and the twelfth season of the K League 1. Ulsan HD are the three-time defending champions. [1]

Contents

Rule changes

The following rules were newly introduced for the 2025 season. [2]

  1. Concussion substitution rule
  2. Homegrown foreign player rule for players of foreign nationality who have spent a significant period of their youth career in South Korea
  3. Domestic foreign player rule for players of foreign nationality who have been registered with a domestic amateur team for at least three consecutive years or a total of five years before their first professional contract
  4. Introduction of a one-off Special Player Registration Period 1–10 June 2025
  5. Increase in the number of players a club can loan in or out (from five to six), and in the number of players that can be loaned between two clubs (from one to two)

Teams

Team changes

FC Anyang were promoted from the K League 2 for the first time in the club's history. [3] Incheon United were relegated to the K League 2, absenting from the top flight of South Korean football for the first time in the club's history. [4]

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

Locations

The following twelve clubs are competing in the 2025 K League 1. [5]

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
2025 K League 1
Transparent.svg
Transparent.svg
14km
8.7miles
Transparent square.svg
Transparent square.svg
Transparent square.svg
Transparent square.svg
Locations of the 2025 K League 1 teams in the Seoul Capital Area

Stadiums

Daegu FC Daejeon Hana Citizen Gangwon FC
DGB Daegu Bank Park Daejeon World Cup Stadium Chuncheon Songam Sports 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 World Cup Stadium Jeju World Cup Stadium
Capacity: 17,143Capacity: 25,000Capacity: 40,245Capacity: 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 Kim Byung-soo 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 Shin Tae-yong Adidas HD Hyundai

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyTableReplaced byDate of appointment
Gangwon FC Flag of South Korea.svg Yoon Jong-hwan [6] End of contract30 November 2024Pre-season Flag of South Korea.svg Chung Kyung-ho [7] 6 December 2024
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Do-heon [8] Mutual consent16 December 2024 Flag of Uruguay.svg Gus Poyet [9] 24 December 2024
Daegu FC Flag of South Korea.svg Park Chang-hyun [10] 13 April 202511th Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Byung-soo 1 June 2025
Ulsan HD Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Pan-gon 2 August 20257th Flag of South Korea.svg Shin Tae-yong 5 August 2025

Foreign players

Each team may have up to six foreign players registered, but may only field up to five at any given time. [11] As a military-owned team, Gimcheon Sangmu are not allowed to sign any foreign players.

A North Korean player is considered to be a domestic player under South Korean nationality law. As of 2025, K League has a homegrown system under which players of foreign nationality who have grown up in Korea are considered to be domestic players when registering as new players.

Players in bold were registered during the mid-season transfer window. Players in italics left their respective clubs during the mid-season transfer window.

TeamPlayer 1Player 2Player 3Player 4Player 5Player 6HomegrownFormer [a]
FC Anyang Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Ivan Jukić 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 Brazil.svg Geovani Flag of Brazil.svg Jatobá Flag of Ghana.svg Isaac Osei Flag of Japan.svg Kyohei Yoshino
Daejeon Hana Citizen Flag of Azerbaijan.svg Anton Kryvotsyuk Flag of Brazil.svg Hernandes Rodrigues Flag of Brazil.svg João Victor Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Bobsin Flag of Japan.svg Masatoshi Ishida Flag of Latvia.svg Vladislavs Gutkovskis Flag of Australia (converted).svg Aaron Calver
Flag of Brazil.svg Kelvin
Gangwon FC Flag of Brazil.svg Bruno Oliveira Flag of Brazil.svg Vitor Gabriel Flag of Montenegro.svg Marko Tući Flag of Croatia.svg Mario Ćuže
Flag of Croatia.svg Franko Kovačević
Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg Romário Baldé
Gwangju FC Flag of Brazil.svg Reis Flag of Iceland.svg Hólmbert Friðjónsson Flag of Albania.svg Jasir Asani
Flag of Brazil.svg Bruno Oliveira
Flag of Brazil.svg Gabriel Tigrão
Jeju SK Flag of Brazil.svg Denílson Flag of Brazil.svg Evandro Flag of Brazil.svg Italo Flag of Brazil.svg Pedrinho Flag of Brazil.svg Tiago Alves Flag of Brazil.svg Yuri
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Flag of Brazil.svg Tiago Orobó Flag of Ghana.svg Patrick Twumasi Flag of Italy.svg Andrea Compagno Flag of Portugal (official).svg João Gamboa Flag of Australia (converted).svg Joel Anasmo
Flag of Brazil.svg Andrigo
Flag of Brazil.svg Hernandes Rodrigues
Flag of Ghana.svg Nana Boateng
Pohang Steelers Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jonathan Aspropotamitis 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 Anderson Flag of Brazil.svg Lucas Rodrigues Flag of Croatia.svg Marko Dugandžić Flag of England.svg Jesse Lingard Flag of Jordan.svg Yazan Al-Arab Flag of Poland.svg Patryk Klimala Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Gbato Seloh Samuel Flag of Brazil.svg Willyan
Suwon FC Flag of Brazil.svg Andrigo Flag of Brazil.svg Luan Dias Flag of Brazil.svg Willyan Flag of the Syrian revolution.svg Pablo Sabbag Flag of Brazil.svg Anderson
Flag of France.svg Leroy Abanda
Flag of Norway.svg Mohamed Ofkir
Ulsan HD Flag of Brazil.svg Erick Farias Flag of Brazil.svg Marcão Flag of Poland.svg Miłosz Trojak Flag of Sweden.svg Darijan Bojanić Flag of Sweden.svg Gustav Ludwigson Flag of Venezuela.svg Matías Lacava Flag of Brazil.svg Yago Cariello
Flag of Georgia.svg Giorgi Arabidze
  1. Left their respective clubs during the mid-season transfer window.

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation [a]
1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (V, X)3020645325+2866Qualification for Champions League Elite league stage
2 Gimcheon Sangmu 3014794733+1449Military team - cannot qualify for AFC competitions
3 Daejeon Hana Citizen 3013984239+348Qualification for Champions League Elite play-off round
4 Pohang Steelers 30146103737048Qualification for Champions League Two group stage
5 FC Seoul 30111094038+243
6 Gwangju FC 30118113235341
7 Gangwon FC 30118112933441
8 FC Anyang 30114153739237
9 Ulsan HD 3099123639336
10 Suwon FC 3097144347434Qualification for relegation play-offs
11 Jeju SK (Y)3087153039931
12 Daegu FC (Y)30571835572222Relegation to K League 2
Updated to match(es) played on 21 September 2025. Source: Soccerway K League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference; 4) Wins; 5) Head-to-head points
(V) Assured of the AFC Champions League Two, but may still qualify for the AFC Champions League Elite; (X) Qualification for the top six group (Final A); (Y) Qualification for the bottom six group (Final B)
Notes:
  1. Teams play each other three times (33 matches), before the league is split into two groups, the top six and the bottom six.

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 ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 326895463222222111111111111111111
Gimcheon Sangmu 847332224333444554333332322222
Daejeon Hana Citizen 152111111111111222222223234333
Pohang Steelers 12121212126779778565445544555443444
FC Seoul 1199743356899978776776444555575
Gwangju FC 6104688642555656668665666766656
Gangwon FC 8685610118798688789101088898887767
FC Anyang 581010711898667799987899101011111111988
Ulsan HD 1073224535444333333457777678899
Suwon FC 611111111121212121212111210101111111111111111101099101010
Jeju SK 235810910101010101011111110109910109899101011111111
Daegu FC 31145791111111112101212121212121212121212121212121212121212
Updated to match(es) played on 21 September 2025. Source: K League
Notes:
  • Matchday 4 (8–9 March): The match between Gwangju FC and Pohang Steelers was postponed to 22 March due to Gwangju FC's schedule for the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite.
  • Matchday 10 (26–27 April): The match between Gwangju FC and Daegu FC was held in advance on 9 April due to Gwangju FC's schedule for the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite.
  • Matchday 18 (13–14 June): The match between Ulsan HD and Daejeon Hana Citizen was held in advance on 1 April due to Ulsan HD's schedule for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
  • Matchday 19 (17–18 June): The match between FC Anyang and Ulsan HD was held in advance on 23 April due to Ulsan HD's schedule for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
  • Matchday 20 (21–22 June): The match between Ulsan HD and Suwon FC was postponed to 2 August due to Ulsan HD's schedule for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
  • Matchday 21 (28–29 June): The match between Ulsan HD and Daegu FC was postponed to 12 July due to Ulsan HD's schedule for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

Results

Matches 1–22

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

Home \ Away AYG DGU DHC GWN GCS GJU JSK JHM PHS SEL SWN USH
FC Anyang 2–21–12–01–31–22–10–10–21–13–10–1
Daegu FC 0–11–22–12–31–13–10–41–10–13–10–1
Daejeon Hana Citizen 2–12–11–00–01–11–10–21–30–01–00–2
Gangwon FC 1–33–02–20–41–00–00–32–10–10–01–1
Gimcheon Sangmu 1–02–00–21–00–01–11–21–00–11–12–0
Gwangju FC 2–12–12–20–11–01–00–12–31–30–01–1
Jeju SK 2–02–11–30–32–30–10–02–02–01–01–2
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2–03–11–10–12–12–21–12–21–13–23–1
Pohang Steelers 2–10–00–32–11–20–12–12–31–02–01–0
FC Seoul 2–13–22–21–10–01–21–30–14–11–11–0
Suwon FC 1–22–13–01–23–22–10–11–21–10–01–1
Ulsan HD 0–12–22–31–23–23–02–01–01–10–02–3
Source: K League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matchdays 1-11

Matchdays 12-22

Matches 23–33

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

Home \ Away AYG DGU DHC GWN GCS GJU JSK JHM PHS SEL SWN USH
FC Anyang 4–03–22–10–1
Daegu FC 2–23–1
Daejeon Hana Citizen 3–22–13–2
Gangwon FC 0–01–03–2
Gimcheon Sangmu 1–23–16–23–2
Gwangju FC 2–00–11–11–2
Jeju SK 0–00–13–2
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2–13–01–02–01–2
Pohang Steelers 1–01–03–11–51–1
FC Seoul 1–22–23–03–2
Suwon FC 2–11–02–44–2
Ulsan HD 0–01–21–00–2
Updated to match(es) played on 21 September 2025. Source: K League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matchdays 23-33

Matches 34–38

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

Final A

Home \ Away JHM TBATBATBATBATBA
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
First match(es) will be played: 25 October 2025. Source: K League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Matchdays 34-38

Final B

Home \ Away DGU JSK TBATBATBATBA
Daegu FC
Jeju SK
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
First match(es) will be played: 25 October 2025. Source: K League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Matchdays 34-38

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 [12] TeamGoals
1 Flag of South Korea.svg Jeon Jin-woo Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 14
2 Flag of Syria (2025-).svg Pablo Sabbag Suwon FC 13
Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Ho-jae Pohang Steelers
Flag of South Korea.svg Joo Min-kyu Daejeon Hana Citizen
5 Flag of Italy.svg Andrea Compagno Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 12
6 Flag of Brazil.svg Bruno Mota FC Anyang 11
7 Flag of Brazil.svg Erick Farias Ulsan HD 10
Flag of South Korea.svg Park Sang-hyeok Gimcheon Sangmu
Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Dong-gyeong Gimcheon Sangmu
10 Flag of Brazil.svg Matheus Oliveira FC Anyang 9

Top assist providers

RankPlayer [12] TeamAssists
1 Flag of Brazil.svg Cesinha Daegu FC 9
2 Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Dong-gyeong Gimcheon Sangmu 8
3 Flag of Brazil.svg Anderson Suwon FC
FC Seoul
7
Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Jin-su FC Seoul
5 Flag of Brazil.svg Yago FC Anyang 6
Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Seung-won Gimcheon Sangmu
7 Flag of Brazil.svg Jorge Luiz Pohang Steelers 5
8 Flag of Brazil.svg Tiago Orobó Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 4
Flag of South Korea.svg Choi Kyoung-rok Gwangju FC
Flag of South Korea.svg Kang Sang-yoon Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Jin-gyu Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Flag of South Korea.svg Hwang Do-yoon FC Seoul
Flag of South Korea.svg Nam Tae-hee Jeju SK

Hat-tricks

PlayerForAgainstResultDate

Awards

Weekly awards

Monthly awards

MonthPlayer of the MonthYoung Player of the MonthGoal of the Month
PlayerClubPlayerClubPlayerClub
February–March Flag of South Korea.svg Joo Min-kyu Daejeon Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Ji-ho Gangwon Flag of South Korea.svg Jeong Seung-won Seoul
April Flag of South Korea.svg Jeon Jin-woo Jeonbuk Flag of South Korea.svg Shin Min-ha Gangwon Flag of Brazil.svg Cesinha Daegu
May Flag of South Korea.svg Jeon Jin-woo Jeonbuk Flag of South Korea.svg Han Hyeon-seo Pohang Flag of South Korea.svg Jeon Jin-woo Jeonbuk
June Flag of Italy.svg Andrea Compagno Jeonbuk Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Seung-won Gimcheon Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Dae-won Gangwon
July Flag of England.svg Jesse Lingard Seoul Flag of South Korea.svg Hwang Do-yoon Seoul Flag of Brazil.svg Cesinha Daegu
August Flag of Syria (2025-).svg Pablo Sabbag Suwon FC Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Seung-won Gimcheon Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Yeong-jae Jeonbuk
September
October
MonthManager of the MonthSave of the Month
ManagerClubDiv.PlayerClub
February–March Flag of South Korea.svg Hwang Sun-hong Daejeon1 Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Gwang-yeon Gangwon
April Flag of South Korea.svg Yoon Jong-hwan Incheon 2 Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Chang-geun Daejeon
May Flag of Uruguay.svg Gus Poyet Jeonbuk1 Flag of South Korea.svg Song Bum-keun Jeonbuk
June Flag of Uruguay.svg Gus Poyet Jeonbuk1 Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Gwang-yeon Gangwon
July Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Eun-jung Suwon FC1 Flag of South Korea.svg Song Bum-keun Jeonbuk
August Flag of South Korea.svg Ko Jeong-woon Gimpo 2 Flag of South Korea.svg Han Tae-hee Daegu
September
October

Attendance

Attendants who entered with free ticket are not counted.

PosTeamTotalHighLowAverageChange
1 FC Seoul 304,08748,00815,29025,341−9.0%
2 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 229,94631,83010,95817,688+7.7%
3 Ulsan HD 195,08226,3176,90215,006−19.4%
4 Daegu FC 131,13512,2497,99410,928−3.0%
5 Daejeon Hana Citizen 137,04119,6285,01610,542+7.0%
6 Pohang Steelers 127,06513,9736,2049,774+3.0%
7 FC Anyang 91,74113,5794,5087,645+46.9%
8 Jeju SK 89,04811,0494,6517,421+16.6%
9 Gangwon FC 89,88810,2313,1356,915−24.5%
10 Suwon FC 55,9048,6611,8844,659−16.8%
11 Gwangju FC 57,6189,5441,7104,432−9.8%
12 Gimcheon Sangmu 30,6193,8401,5332,355−31.6%
League total1,539,16448,0081,53310,261−6.7%

Updated to games played on August 11 2025
Source: K League
Notes:
Teams that played previous season in K League 2.

See also

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. "What's Changing in K League for 2025 Season?". K League United. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  3. "FC Anyang promoted to top football league for 1st time in club history".
  4. "Incheon United relegated to K League 2 for 1st time". 11 November 2024.
  5. "기록" [Records]. K League. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  6. "Yoon Jong-hwan departs Gangwon FC, Jeong Kyung-ho appointed manager".
  7. "Head coach Chung Kyung-ho has been appointed as the new head coach".
  8. "Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC Parts Ways with Coach Kim Do-heon".
  9. "Gus Poyet Appointed Head Coach of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors".
  10. "Daegu FC head coach resigns amid early-season woes".
  11. 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.
  12. 1 2 "K LEAGUE / Record".