2025 K League 1

Last updated

Hana Bank
K League 1
Season 2025
Dates15 February - 30 November 2025
Matches played15
Goals scored37 (2.47 per match)
Top goalscorer Jasir Asani (Gwangju FC)
Joo Min-kyu (Daejeon Hana Citizen)
(each 2 goals)
Biggest home winJeju SK 2-0 FC Seoul (15 February 2025)
Daegu FC 3-1 Suwon FC (22 February 2025)
Biggest away winPohang Steelers 0-3 Daejeon Hana (15 February 2025)
Highest scoringJeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2-2 Gwangju (23 February 2025)
Longest winning run2
Daegu FC
Longest losing run2
Pohang Steelers
Highest attendance41415
FC Seoul 2-1 FC Anyang (22 February 2025)
Lowest attendance3319
Gwangju 1-1 FC Anyang (1 March 2025)
Total attendance177641
Average attendance14803
← 2024
2026 →
All statistics correct as of 1 March 2025.

The 2025 K League 1, also known as the Hana Bank K League 1 for sponsorship reasons, is the 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

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

Rules changes

The following rules are newly introduced for the 2025 season

  1. Introduction of Concussion Substitution Rule
  2. Introduction of Foreign-Born Homegrown Rule for foreign youth players who have spent a significant period developing in South Korea
  3. Introduction of Domestic foreigners who have been registered with a domestic amateur team for 3consecutive years or a total of 5years before their first professional contract
  4. Introduction of a one-off Special Player Registration Period 1–10 June 2025
  5. Increased the number of players a club can loan in or out from 5 to 6 and the number of players that can be loaned between two clubs will be increased from 1 to 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 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 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 Flag of Ghana.svg Isaac Osei
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 Croatia.svg Franko Kovačević Flag of Croatia.svg Mario Ćuže Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg Romário Baldé 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 Reis
Jeju SK Flag of Brazil.svg Italo Flag of Brazil.svg Yuri
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Flag of Brazil.svg Andrigo Flag of Brazil.svg Hernandes Rodrigues Flag of Brazil.svg Tiago Orobó Flag of Ghana.svg Nana Boateng Flag of Italy.svg Andrea Compagno Flag of Malaysia.svg Arif Aiman Hanapi
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 Lucas Rodrigues Flag of Brazil.svg Willyan Flag of Croatia.svg Marko Dugandžić Flag of England.svg Jesse Lingard Flag of Jordan.svg Yazan Al-Arab Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Gbato Seloh Samuel
Suwon FC Flag of Brazil.svg Anderson Oliveira Flag of Brazil.svg Luan Dias Flag of France.svg Leroy Abanda Flag of Norway.svg Mohamed Ofkir Flag of the Syrian revolution.svg Pablo Sabbag
Ulsan HD 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
  1. ↑ Left their respective clubs during the mid-season transfer window.

League table

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation [a]
1 Daegu FC 321051+47Qualification for Champions League Elite league stage
2 Ulsan HD 320131+26Qualification for Champions League Elite play-off round
3 Gwangju FC 312043+15Qualification for Champions League Two group stage
4 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 31114404
5 Jeju SK 210143+13
6 Daejeon Hana Citizen 210132+13
7 Gimcheon Sangmu [b] 21014403
8 Gangwon FC 21013303
9 FC Anyang 310234−13
10 FC Seoul 210123−13Qualification for relegation play-offs
11 Suwon FC 201103−31
12 Pohang Steelers 301215−41Relegation to K League 2
Updated to match(es) played on 1 March 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.

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 ╲ Round12
Daegu FC 31
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 32
Jeju SK 23
Gimcheon Sangmu 84
Daejeon Hana Citizen 15
Gangwon FC 86
Ulsan Hyundai 107
FC Anyang 58
FC Seoul 119
Gwangju FC 610
Suwon FC 611
Pohang Steelers 1212
Updated to match(es) played on 23 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 JSK JHM PHS SEL SWN USH
FC Anyang — a
Daegu FC —2–13–1
Daejeon Hana Citizen —0–2
Gangwon FC —2–1
Gimcheon Sangmu —
Gwangju FC 2–1—0–0
Jeju SK 2–3—2–0
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2–12–2— a a
Pohang Steelers 0–00–3— a
FC Seoul 2–1 a —
Suwon FC —
Ulsan HD 0–1 1–0 a —
Updated to match(es) played on 1 March 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 0–3 Daejeon Hana Citizen
Soccerball shade.svg32' Choi Geon-ju
Soccerball shade.svg87', 90' Joo Min-kyu
Attendance: 10,519
Referee: Lee Dong-jun
Jeju SK 2–0 FC Seoul
Kim Jun-ha Soccerball shade.svg14'
Lee Kun-hee Soccerball shade.svg57'
Attendance: 11,049
Referee: Choi Gwang-ho
Gwangju FC 0–0 Suwon FC
Attendance: 4,690
Referee: Park Byeong-jin
Ulsan HD 0–1 FC Anyang
Soccerball shade.svg90+1' Mota
Attendance: 18,718
Referee: Kim Yong-woo
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2–1 Gimcheon Sangmu
Park Jin-seop Soccerball shade.svg45+6'
Jeon Jin-woo Soccerball shade.svg81'		Soccerball shade.svg14' Yu Kang-hyun
Attendance: 19,619
Referee: Shin Yong-jun
Daegu FC 2–1 Gangwon FC
Bruno Lamas Soccerball shade.svg56'
Cesinha Soccerball shade.svg90+3'		Soccerball shade.svg44' Vitor Gabriel
Attendance: 12,240
Referee: Seol Tae-hwan
Matchday 2 (22-23 February)
Jeju SK 2–3 Gimcheon Sangmu
Lee Kun-hee Soccerball shade.svg30'
Yu In-soo Soccerball shade.svg58'		Soccerball shade.svg50' Lee Dong-gyeong
Soccerball shade.svg63' Park Sang-hyuk
Soccerball shade.svg90' Won Ki-jong
Attendance: 5,733
Referee: Kim Woo-sung
FC Seoul 2–1 FC Anyang
Lingard Soccerball shade.svg48'
Lucas Rodrigues Soccerball shade.svg79'		Soccerball shade.svg90+3' Choe Seong-beom
Attendance: 41,415
Referee: Ko Hyung-jin
Daegu FC 3–1 Suwon FC
Bruno Lamas Soccerball shade.svg19' (pen.)
Lee Yong Soccerball shade.svg53' (o.g.)
Caio Marcelo Soccerball shade.svg70'		Soccerball shade.svg90+4' Anderson
Attendance: 12,098
Referee: Kim Dae-yong
Daejeon Hana Citizen 0–2 Ulsan HD
Soccerball shade.svg8' Yoon Jae-seok
Soccerball shade.svg59' Heo Yool
Attendance: 19,628
Referee: Kim Jong-hyeok
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2–2 Gwangju FC
Compagno Soccerball shade.svg21', 66'Soccerball shade.svg14' Asani
Soccerball shade.svg66' Oh Hu-seong
Attendance: 15,393
Referee: Chae Sang-hyeop
Gangwon FC 2–1 Pohang Steelers
Lee Ji-ho Soccerball shade.svg82', 90+3'Soccerball shade.svg44' Lee Ho-jae
Attendance: 6,539
Referee: Song Min-seok
Matchday 3 (1-3 March)
Ulsan HD 1–0 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Bojanić Soccerball shade.svg65'
Attendance: 26,317
Referee: Kim Woo-seong
Pohang Steelers 0–0 Daegu FC
Attendance: 11,207
Referee: Kim Yong-woo
Gwangju FC 2–1 FC Anyang
Asani Soccerball shade.svg57', 89'Soccerball shade.svg16' Mota
Attendance: 3,319
Referee: Shin Yong-jun
Daejeon Hana Citizen v Suwon FC
Gangwon FC v Jeju SK
FC Seoul v Gimcheon Sangmu
Matchday 4 (8-9, 22 March)
Suwon FC v FC Seoul
Daegu FC v Daejeon Hana Citizen
FC Anyang v Gimcheon Sangmu
Ulsan HD v Jeju SK
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors v Gangwon FC
Gwangju FC v Pohang Steelers
Matchday 5 (15-16 March)
Jeju SK v Daejeon Hana Citizen
Gangwon FC v FC Seoul
Daegu FC v FC Anyang
Suwon FC v Ulsan HD
Gimcheon Sangmu v Gwangju FC
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors v Pohang Steelers
Matchday 6 (29-30 March)
FC Seoul v Daegu FC
Pohang Steelers v Ulsan HD
Daejeon Hana Citizen v Gwangju FC
Jeju SK v Suwon FC
Gimcheon Sangmu v Gangwon FC
FC Anyang v Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
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 JSK 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 [10] TeamGoals

Top assist providers

RankPlayer [10] TeamAssists

Hat-tricks

PlayerForAgainstResultDate

Awards

Weekly awards

Monthly awards

MonthPlayer of the MonthYoung Player of the MonthGoal of the Month
PlayerClubPlayerClubPlayerClub
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
MonthManager of the MonthSave of the Month
ManagerClubDiv.PlayerClub
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October

Attendance

Attendants who entered with free ticket are not counted.

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. ↑ "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. 1 2 "K LEAGUE / Record".
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