2025 K League 1 Team Guide | OneFootball

The 2025 Hana Bank K League 1 season is just around the corner. Accordingly, K League United provides a guide to all 12 teams in Korea's top flight.

Format

The K League 1 season is played over 38 rounds, 33 as part of the regular season and five in K League "Final." The 12 teams played each other three times "pre-split" and then one more time "post-split." The league splits into Final A and Final B with teams in the top six playing each other once more, likewise those in the bottom six.

The K League 1 title winners qualify for the AFC Champions League Elite, as do the Korea Cup winners if they also finish in the top four, otherwise, it's ACL Two. The K League 1 runners-up also earn an ACLE place, while third qualifies for ACL TWO. Fourth would become an ACL Two spot if any of the top three win the Korea Cup.

At the other end of the table, the team that finishes 12th is relegated to K League 2; 10th, and 11th then enter the Promotion-Relegation Playoffs against teams from K League 2.

FC Anyang

Manager: Ryu Byeong-hoon | Captain: Lee Chang-yong | Nickname: Violets | Est: 2013 | Mascot: Bati | Rivals: Suwon Bluewings, Ansan Greeners, FC Seoul | Stadium: Anyang Sports Complex (1986, 17,143) | 2024: 1st, K2

FC Anyang were one of the founding members of K League 2 having joined what was then the K League Challenge in 2013 for its debut season. The Violets had remained in the second division right up until last year when they secured a historic promotion to the top flight. After several playoff heartbreaks over the years, the Violets went one better last season and won the K League 2 title under fledgling manager Ryu Byeong-hoon. Anyang's promotion means that K League 1 has a new team in the top flight for the first time since 2016 when Suwon FC first won promotion. The Violets have had a fairly quiet transfer window so far but have signed last year's K League 2 top scorer Bruno Mota from Cheonan City as they look to add more firepower and avoid relegation.

Honours: K League 2 Winners (2024)

Daegu FC

Manager: Park Chang-hyun | Captain: Cesinha | Nickname: Sky Blues | Est: 2002 | Mascot(s): Rica, Victo | Stadium: DGB Daegu Bank Park (2019, 12,415)

Founded in 2002, Daegu FC are one of the league's oldest citizen-owned clubs. The club lifted its first piece of silverware in 2018, beating Ulsan over two legs in the FA Cup Final and subsequently earning AFC Champions League qualification for the first time. In 2020, Daegu FC qualified for the AFC Champions League Group Stage through league positioning before setting a new league finish record in 2021 by ending the campaign in third. But since then, it's mostly been relegation battles for the Sky Blues, needing the playoffs to seal survival last season. To ensure that doesn't happen again in 2025, Bruno Lamas and Jeong Woo-jae have returned to the club, and there are new contracts for Cesinha and Edgar. Park Dae-hoon, who caused Daegu problems in the playoffs, has signed from Chungnam Asan, as well as promising winger Han Jong-mu from Jeju United. The tentative target in 2025 will be to secure a top-six finish but realistically, it'll be about ensuring the team isn't in a relegation battle.

Honours: Promotion Winners (2016), FA Cup (2018)

Daejeon Hana Citizen

Manager: Hwang Sun-hong | Captain: Lee Chang-geun | Nickname: Purples, Citizen | Est: 1997 | Mascot: Jaju | Rivals: Suwon Bluewings | Stadium: Daejeon World Cup Stadium (2001, 40,535) | 2024: 8th

Daejeon Citizen were founded in 1997 as a team for the citizens of Daejeon and owned by a consortium of local companies. When K League was decentralised and teams didn't play at "home" stadiums as such, teams from all around the country played at the city's Hanbat Stadium. Attendances showed that the citizens of Daejeon wanted a professional football team. Thus, in 1997, Daejeon Citizen was born. It then became a citizen club (funded by the local government) in 2006 but the 2020 season was the start of a new era for Daejeon following a takeover from Hana Financial Group, with "Hana" added to the team's name.

Daejeon first suffered a second relegation in 2015 but sealed a long-awaited return to the top flight in 2022 after overcoming Gimcheon Sangmu in the playoffs. The club had lofty aspirations of ACL qualification in 2024 but it became a relegation battle and safety was only secured with a game to spare. The club are desperate to make the next step and their win-now approach to the transfer market is evident of that.

Honours: Promotion Playoff Winners (2022), K League 2 Winners (2014), FA Cup (2001)

Gangwon FC

Manager: Jeong Kyung-ho | Captain: Kim Dong-hyun | Nickname: Bears | Est: 2008 | Mascot: Gang-woongi | Stadium(s): Songam Sports Town, Chuncheon (2009, 20,000), Gangneung Civic Stadium (1984, 22,333) | 2024: 2nd

Owned by the provincial government of Gangwon, Gangwon FC were founded as a club at the end of 2008 and began competing in the K League in 2009. The club spent three seasons in the second tier from 2014 to 2016 following relegation in 2013 before triumphing over Seongnam FC in the playoffs to regain their top-flight status. Gangwon FC are still yet to lift silverware but finished second last season to secure their best-ever. Yoon Jong-hwan has left and in has come his assistant Jeong Kyung-ho, the mastermind behind positional changes for the likes of Hwang Mun-ki, Lee Gi-hyeok, and Lee You-hyun. The Bears will have AFC Champions League football to juggle in 2025 and will be without Yang Min-hyeok who has moved to Tottenham Hotspur but have been busy in the transfer market.

Honours: Promotion Playoff Winners (2016)

Gimcheon Sangmu

Manager: Chung Jung-yong | Captain: TBC | Nickname: The army side | Est: 2021 | Mascot(s): Shyu-ung | Stadium: Gimcheon Civic Stadium | 2024: 3rd

Gimcheon Sangmu are the league's military side, with a squad made up of loaned-out professional K League players undertaking their 20-month national service. The team moved from Sangju to Gimcheon in 2020 and had to drop into the second tier for the 2021 season. In its previous guise as Sangju Sangmu, the team suffered relegation twice before but were able to earn promotion at the first time of asking on both occasions. The trend continued in 2021 with Gimcheon winning K League 2 and with a nine-point cushion but were relegated via the playoffs in 2022. After some last-day drama, Gimcheon were crowned K League 2 champions in 2023 and again sealed an instant return to the top flight. Last year saw a military team record third-place finish, far surpassing expectations. With this batch of players set to leave in stages in 2025, starting in June, it will be a year of upheaval for Chung Jung-yong. Another title race will be unlikely, and a place in the top six is the more realistic target. The club were actually expected to leave the city of Gimcheon after 2025 but it looks like a one-year extension has been agreed.

Honours: K League 2 Championship (2021, 2023)

Gwangju FC

Manager: Lee Jung-hyo | Captain: Lee Min-ki | Nickname(s): Bitgoeul, Griffins | Est: 2010 | Mascot: Boni | Rivals: Daegu FC | Stadium: Gwangju Football Stadium (2020, 10,007) | 2024: 9th

Gwangju FC were born when army team Gwangju Sangmu departed the city at the end of 2010. Gwangju are one of just a handful of clubs to have been relegated to the second tier on more than one occasion since K League 2 was formed in 2013, becoming something of a yo-yo club. But the 2022 K League 2 title under current manager Lee Jung-hyo kick-started a golden period for the club, finishing third in 2023 and qualifying for the AFC Champions League where they've won four from six matches and look on course to reach the knockouts. A transfer embargo in the summer of last year meant the club has been limited in terms of their recruitment plans but the theme for 2025 seems to be to buff up some rough diamonds with the eccentric and animated manager Lee Jung-hyo leading the charge.

Honours: K League 2 Winners (2019, 2022), Promotion Playoff Winners (2014)

Jeju SK

Manager: Kim Hak-bum | Captain: TBC | Nickname(s): Islanders, Tangerines | Est: 1982 | Mascot: Gamgyuli | Rivals: Bucheon FC 1995 | Stadium: Jeju World Cup Stadium (2001, 35,657) | 2024: 7th

Jeju United have been rebranded as Jeju SK, incorporating the name of the club's ownership SK Energy. Originally founded as Bucheon SK and based on the mainland, Jeju are one of the league's oldest teams. Now located on the beautiful island of Jeju off the south coast, the Tangerines boast of one of the most picturesque stadiums in Korea - Jeju World Cup Stadium in the city of Seogwipo. It's been something of a rollercoaster in recent years with relegation in 2019 then the K League 2 title and promotion in 2020. Top-six finishes followed but it's been Final B for the last two seasons. Experienced manager Kim Hak-bum has been busy in the transfer market as he looks to find the Tangerines' sweet spot once again.

Honours: K League 1 Winners (1989)*, K League 2 Winners (2020)

*As Bucheon SK

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

Manager: Gus Poyet | Captain: TBC | Nickname: Green Warriors | Est: 1994 | Mascot(s): Cho-a, Nighty, Search | Rivals: Jeonnam Dragons, FC Seoul, Suwon Bluewings, Ulsan | Stadium: Jeonju World Cup Stadium (2001, 42,477) | 2024: 10th

Founded in 1994, it was not until the 21st Century that Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors began to claim silverware. Much of the last decade was spent cementing themselves as a K League powerhouse, lifting all nine of their titles in the span of thirteen seasons. However, it's Ulsan who have finished top for the last three years and Jeonbuk even had to go through the indignity of a relegation playoff in 2024 after finishing 10th. Unheard of for a club that had been so dominant for so long. Dan Petrescu started the season as manager, Kim Do-heon ended it but it's Gus Poyet who has been tasked with guiding these stumbling giants back to the upper echelons of the table again.

Honours: K League 1 Winners (2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021), FA Cup (2000, 2003, 2005, 2020, 2022), AFC Champions League (2006, 2016)

Pohang Steelers

Manager: Park Tae-ha | Captain: Wanderson | Nickname: Steelers | Est: 1973 | Mascot: Swidoli | Rivals: Ulsan HD, Jeonnam Dragons | Stadium: Pohang Steelyard (1990, 15,521) | 2024: 6th

One of the founding members of the division, and a club that celebrated its 50th anniversary just a couple of seasons ago, POSCO-owned Pohang Steelers, are one of the most successful sides in both K League and AFC Champions League history. The Steelers added their fifth and sixth FA Cup triumphs in 2023 and 2024, the latter under the stewardship of club legend Park Tae-ha, and the former their first trophy in 10 years. Pohang take something of a 'Moneyball' approach to their transfer business, opting to polish up rough diamonds. This method will be put to the test once again in 2025 when the Steelers look to add more silverware, and try to improve on last year's sixth-place finish.

Honours: K League 1 Winners (1986, 1988, 1992, 2007, 2013), FA Cup (1996, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2023, 2024), AFC Champions League (1996-97, 1997-98, 2009), League Cup (1993, 2009)

FC Seoul

Manager: Kim Gi-dong | Captain: Jesse Lingard | Est: 1983 | Mascot: SSID | Rivals: Suwon Bluewings, Incheon United, Seongnam FC, Jeonbuk Hyundai, FC Anyang | Stadium: Seoul World Cup Stadium (2001, 66,704) | 2024: 4th

FC Seoul are the capital city's top-flight team and have enjoyed various domestic successes over the years under different guises. Life began as Lucky-Goldstar in the early 1980s before becoming the LG Cheetahs. The Cheetahs would win three K League titles before being re-founded as FC Seoul in 2004. The club then lifted the K League title three times more, in 2010, 2012, and on the last day of the 2016 season in dramatic circumstances away to then-reigning champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. Since then, FC Seoul have managed just three top-six finishes with last season's being the first since 2019. Kim Gi-dong, with Jesse Lingard as his captain, are now tasked with bringing silverware to Sangam. The club qualified for the AFC Champions League last season, and have strengthened well in the winter window.

Honours: K League 1 Winners (1985*, 1990*, 2000*, 2010, 2012, 2016), FA Cup (1998*, 2015), League Cup (2006, 2010), National Football Championship (1988*)

*As LG Cheetahs

Suwon FC

Manager: Kim Eun-jung | Captain: Lee Yong | Est: 2003 | Mascot: Jangin-janggun | Rivals: Suwon Bluewings | Stadium: Suwon Civic Stadium (1971, 11,808) | 2024: 5th

Citizen club Suwon FC began their K League journey in the second tier in 2013 but were established long before K League 2 began, competing in the now-defunct National League (3rd tier) up until then. In 2015, Suwon reached the promised land of K League 1 by defeating giants Busan IPark in the playoffs. Relegation followed a year later but Suwon returned to the top flight in 2020, winning the playoffs in very dramatic fashion courtesy of a 100th-minute An Byong-jun penalty. The Castle Park club strengthened significantly upon their second promotion and went on to secure a historic top-half finish in 2021. Last season, under the stewardship of K League legend Kim Eun-jung, Suwon finished fifth and came close to AFC Champions League qualification. Having worked with Korea's U23 and U20 squads, Coach Kim has looked to bring in some former and current youth internationals such as Lee Ji-sol, Jang Yun-ho, and Hwang In-taek.

Honours: Promotion Playoff Winners (2015, 2020)

Ulsan HD

Manager: Kim Pan-gon | Captain: TBC | Nickname: Horangi (Tigers) | Est: 1983 | Mascot: Geonho | Rivals: Pohang Steelers | Stadium: Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium (2001, 44,102) | 2024: 1st (C)

Ulsan HD are three-peat K League champions and are beginning to establish something of a dynasty.

Ulsan also make up part of the K League's founding members club, having been established in 1983 as the Hyundai Horang-i. Until the last three seasons, Ulsan's success has centred around cup competitions but finally made good on their potential to claim their third K League title in 2022 and their first since 2005. Another K League title followed in 2023, the first time the club had one back-to-back league championships, then a third in a row, and fifth overall came last year. Now with Kim Pan-gon at the helm, Ulsan seem to be looking to execute something of a generational shift with notable older players leaving, such as Kim Kee-hee and Joo Min-kyu, with younger players coming in to keep the Horangi competitive for many years to come starting with another title in 2025 as that will be the aim.

Honours: K League 1 Winners (1996, 2005, 2022, 2023, 2024), FA Cup (2017), AFC Champions League (2012, 2020), League Cup (1986, 1995, 1998, 2007, 2011)