2025 K League 1

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Season2025
Dates15 February – 30 November
CountrySouth Korea
Teams12
Hana Bank
K League 1
Season2025
Dates15 February – 30 November
CountrySouth Korea
Teams12
ChampionsJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
(10th title)
RelegatedSuwon FC
Daegu FC
Champions League EliteJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Daejeon Hana Citizen
Pohang Steelers
Gangwon FC
Champions League TwoFC Seoul
Matches228
Goals578 (2.54 per match)
Best PlayerLee Dong-gyeong
Top goalscorerPablo Sabbag
(17 goals)
Biggest home winAnyang 4–0 Daegu
(22 July)
Gimcheon 6–2 Seoul
(17 August)
Biggest away winGangwon 0–4 Gimcheon
(11 May 2025)
Highest scoringGimcheon 6–2 Seoul
(17 August)
Longest winning run6 matches
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Longest unbeaten run24 matches
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Longest winless run12 matches
Daegu FC
Longest losing run7 matches
Daegu FC
Highest attendance48,008
Seoul 0–1 Jeonbuk
(3 May)
Lowest attendance1,405
Gimcheon 0–1 Gangwon
(8 November)
Total attendance2,298,557[1]
Average attendance10,081[1]
← 2024
2026 →

The 2025 K League 1, also known as the Hana Bank K League 1 for sponsorship reasons, was the 43rd season of the top division of professional football in South Korea, and the twelfth season of the K League 1. Ulsan HD were the three-time defending champions.[2]

The following rules were newly introduced for the 2025 season.[3]

  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

League table

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 Motors326895463222222111111111111111111
Gimcheon Sangmu847332224333444554333332322222222
Daejeon Hana Citizen152111111111111222222223234333333
Pohang Steelers12121212126779778565445544555443444444
FC Seoul1199743356899978776776444555575555
Gangwon FC8685610118798688789101088898887767766
FC Anyang581010711898667799987899101011111111988887
Gwangju FC6104688642555656668665666766656678
Ulsan HD107322453544433333345777767889910109
Suwon FC6111111111212121212121112101011111111111111111010991010109910
Jeju SK2358109101010101010111111101099101098991010111111111111
Daegu FC31145791111111112101212121212121212121212121212121212121212
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.

Round 34–38

Team ╲ Round3435363738
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors11111
Daejeon Hana Citizen32222
Gimcheon Sangmu23333
Pohang Steelers44444
Gangwon FC66665
FC Seoul55556
Gwangju FC77877
FC Anyang88788
Ulsan HD99999
Suwon FC1010101010
Jeju SK1111111111
Daegu FC1212121212
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 — 2–2 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–2 2–1 0–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 0–1
Daegu FC 0–1 — 1–2 2–1 2–3 1–1 3–1 0–4 1–1 0–1 3–1 0–1
Daejeon Hana Citizen 2–1 2–1 — 1–0 0–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–0 1–0 0–2
Gangwon FC 1–3 3–0 2–2 — 0–4 1–0 0–0 0–3 2–1 0–1 0–0 1–1
Gimcheon Sangmu 1–0 2–0 0–2 1–0 — 0–0 1–1 1–2 1–0 0–1 1–1 2–0
Gwangju FC 2–1 2–1 2–2 0–1 1–0 — 1–0 0–1 2–3 1–3 0–0 1–1
Jeju SK 2–0 2–1 1–3 0–3 2–3 0–1 — 0–0 2–0 2–0 1–0 1–2
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2–0 3–1 1–1 0–1 2–1 2–2 1–1 — 2–2 1–1 3–2 3–1
Pohang Steelers 2–1 0–0 0–3 2–1 1–2 0–1 2–1 2–3 — 1–0 2–0 1–0
FC Seoul 2–1 3–2 2–2 1–1 0–0 1–2 1–3 0–1 4–1 — 1–1 1–0
Suwon FC 1–2 2–1 3–0 1–2 3–2 2–1 0–1 1–2 1–1 0–0 — 1–1
Ulsan HD 0–1 2–2 2–3 1–2 3–2 3–0 2–0 1–0 1–1 0–0 2–3 —
Source: K League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

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 — 4–0 3–2 — 4–1 0–0 2–1 — 0–1 — — —
Daegu FC — — — 2–2 — — 2–2 — — — 3–1 1–1
Daejeon Hana Citizen — 3–2 — — 2–1 — 3–1 — — — 3–2 —
Gangwon FC 1–1 — 0–0 — 0–0 — — — 1–0 3–2 — —
Gimcheon Sangmu — 1–2 — — — — 3–1 — 2–0 6–2 3–2 3–0
Gwangju FC — 2–3 2–0 0–1 1–1 — — 1–2 — — — —
Jeju SK — — — 0–0 — 0–1 — 1–1 — 3–2 3–4 —
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2–1 3–0 1–0 2–0 1–2 — — — — — 2–0 —
Pohang Steelers — — 1–3 — — 1–0 1–0 3–1 — — 1–5 1–1
FC Seoul 1–2 2–2 — — — 3–0 — 1–1 1–2 — — 3–2
Suwon FC 2–1 — — 1–0 — 2–4 — — — 1–1 — 4–2
Ulsan HD 0–0 — 1–2 — — 2–0 1–0 0–2 — — — —
Source: K League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matches 34–38

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

Final A

Home \ Away DHC GWN GCS JHM PHS SEL
Daejeon Hana Citizen — 1–1 — — 2–0 3–1
Gangwon FC — — — 0–0 1–0 —
Gimcheon Sangmu 0–3 0–1 — — 0–1 —
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 3–1 — 2–3 — — 2–1
Pohang Steelers — — — 0–0 — 0–0
FC Seoul — 4–2 1–3 — — —
Source: K League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Final B

Home \ Away AYG DGU GJU JSK SWN USH
FC Anyang — — — — 0–1 3–1
Daegu FC 2–2 — 1–0 — — —
Gwangju FC 1–0 — — 2–0 — 2–0
Jeju SK 1–2 1–1 — — — —
Suwon FC — 1–1 0–1 1–2 — —
Ulsan HD — 1–1 — 0–1 1–0 —
Source: K League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Relegation play-offs

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

The first leg between Suwon FC and Bucheon FC 1995 was postponed from 4 December to 5 December due to heavy snow.

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 0–3 Jeju SK 0–1 0–2
Bucheon FC 1995 4–2 Suwon FC 1–0 3–2
Suwon Samsung Bluewings0–1Jeju SK
Attendance: 18,715
Referee: Shin Yong-jun
Jeju SK2–0Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Attendance: 18,912
Referee: Song Min-seok

Jeju SK won 3–0 on aggregate and therefore both clubs remain in their respective leagues.

Bucheon FC 19951–0Suwon FC
Bassani 46'
Attendance: 4,353
Suwon FC2–3Bucheon FC 1995
Attendance: 4,180
Referee: Seol Tae-hwan

Bucheon FC 1995 won 4–2 on aggregate and was promoted to K League 1, while Suwon FC was relegated to K League 2.

Statistics

Top goalscorers

Rank Player[12] Team Goals
1 Syria Pablo Sabbag Suwon FC 17
2 South Korea Jeon Jin-woo Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 16
3 South Korea Lee Ho-jae Pohang Steelers 15
4 South Korea Joo Min-kyu Daejeon Hana Citizen 14
Brazil Bruno Mota FC Anyang
6 Italy Andrea Compagno Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 13
Brazil Yuri Jeju SK
South Korea Lee Dong-gyeong Gimcheon Sangmu
Ulsan HD
9 Brazil Cesinha Daegu FC 12
South Korea Park Sang-hyeok Gimcheon Sangmu
Gangwon FC

Top assist providers

Rank Player[12] Team Assists
1 Brazil Cesinha Daegu FC 12
South Korea Lee Dong-gyeong Gimcheon Sangmu
Ulsan HD
3 Brazil Anderson Oliveira Suwon FC
FC Seoul		 8
South Korea Kim Jin-su FC Seoul
5 Brazil Yago César FC Anyang 6
South Korea Lee Seung-won Gimcheon Sangmu
Gangwon FC
South Korea Kim Jin-gyu Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
8 8 players 5

Awards

Weekly awards

Monthly awards

Month Player of the Month Young Player of the Month Goal of the Month
Player Club Player Club Player Club
February–March South Korea Joo Min-kyu Daejeon South Korea Lee Ji-ho Gangwon South Korea Jeong Seung-won Seoul
April South Korea Jeon Jin-woo Jeonbuk South Korea Shin Min-ha Gangwon Brazil Cesinha Daegu
May South Korea Jeon Jin-woo Jeonbuk South Korea Han Hyeon-seo Pohang South Korea Jeon Jin-woo Jeonbuk
June Italy Andrea Compagno Jeonbuk South Korea Lee Seung-won Gimcheon South Korea Kim Dae-won Gangwon
July England Jesse Lingard Seoul South Korea Hwang Do-yun Seoul Brazil Cesinha Daegu
August Syria Pablo Sabbag Suwon FC South Korea Lee Seung-won Gimcheon South Korea Lee Yeong-jae Jeonbuk
September Brazil Cesinha Daegu South Korea Lee Seung-won Gimcheon South Korea Jang Seong-won Daegu
October Brazil Cesinha Daegu South Korea Han Tae-hee Daegu South Korea Han Ga-ram Anyang
Month Manager of the Month Save of the Month
Manager Club Div. Player Club
February–March South Korea Hwang Sun-hong Daejeon 1 South Korea Lee Gwang-yeon Gangwon
April South Korea Yoon Jong-hwan Incheon 2 South Korea Lee Chang-geun Daejeon
May Uruguay Gus Poyet Jeonbuk 1 South Korea Song Bum-keun Jeonbuk
June Uruguay Gus Poyet Jeonbuk 1 South Korea Lee Gwang-yeon Gangwon
July South Korea Kim Eun-jung Suwon FC 1 South Korea Song Bum-keun Jeonbuk
August South Korea Ko Jeong-woon Gimpo 2 South Korea Han Tae-hee Daegu
September South Korea Jeon Kyung-jun Seongnam 2 South Korea Song Bum-keun Jeonbuk
October South Korea Hwang Sun-hong Daejeon 1 South Korea Song Bum-keun Jeonbuk

Annual awards

The 2025 K League Awards was held on 1 December 2025.[13]

Award Winner Club
Most Valuable Player South Korea Lee Dong-gyeong Gimcheon Sangmu
Ulsan HD
Young Player of the Year South Korea Lee Seung-won Gimcheon Sangmu
Gangwon FC
Top goalscorer Syria Pablo Sabbag Suwon FC
Top assist provider Brazil Cesinha Daegu FC
Manager of the Year Uruguay Gus Poyet Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Position Best XI
Goalkeeper South Korea Song Bum-keun (Jeonbuk)
Defenders South Korea Kim Moon-hwan
(Daejeon)		 South Korea Hong Jeong-ho
(Jeonbuk)		 Jordan Yazan Al-Arab
(Seoul)		 South Korea Lee Myung-jae
(Daejeon)
Midfielders South Korea Kang Sang-yoon
(Jeonbuk)		 South Korea Park Jin-seob
(Jeonbuk)		 South Korea Kim Jin-gyu
(Jeonbuk)		 South Korea Song Min-kyu
(Jeonbuk)
Forwards Syria Pablo Sabbag (Suwon FC) South Korea Lee Dong-gyeong (Gimcheon, Ulsan)

Attendance

Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
1 FC Seoul 440,516 23,185 −16.7%†
2 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 368,505 18,425 +18.4%†
3 Ulsan HD 274,844 14,465 −22.3%†
4 Daejeon Hana Citizen 201,775 10,620 +7.8%†
5 Daegu FC 188,905 10,495 −6.8%†
6 Pohang Steelers 194,713 10,248 +8.0%†
7 FC Anyang 144,246 7,592 +44.6%†
8 Jeju SK 128,759 7,153 +12.4%†
9 Gangwon FC 134,489 7,078 −22.7%†
10 Suwon FC 88,708 4,669 −16.6%†
11 Gwangju FC 79,417 4,180 −14.9%†
12 Gimcheon Sangmu 53,680 2,684 −22.1%†
League total 2,298,557 10,081 −8.4%†

Source: K League
Notes:
† Teams that played previous season in K League 2.

See also

References

External links

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