2025 K4 League

K4 League
Season2025
Dates22 February – 15 November 2025
ChampionsDangjin Citizen
(1st title)
PromotedDangjin Citizen
Top goalscorerGu Hyun-woo
(20 goals)
← 2024
2026 →

The 2025 K4 League is the sixth season of the semi-professional K4 League, the fourth-highest league of men's football in South Korea.

Competition format

The pre-season winter transfer window opened between 1 January and 24 March 2025, and the summer transfer window opened between 20 June and 31 July 2025.

Prior to the 2025 season, the size of each matchday squad increased from 18 to 20 players, following the rule of the K League. Among them, three or more players had to be under-23 Koreans, with one included in the starting line-up. The AFC player quota was removed, and participating teams could include four foreign players of any nationality.[1]

The 2025 season consisted of 33 rounds with each team playing 30 matches.[2][3] The champions were directly promoted to the K3 League, and the runners-up qualified for the promotion play-off where they played the lowest-ranked team of the 2025 K3 League.[4]

Teams

Team changes

Jeonju Citizen suspended their participation due to financial issues.[5] Seoul Nowon United also suspended their participation after failing to extend the contract with Nowon Madeul Stadium. The two teams eventually decided to be disbanded.[6]

FC Sejong were forced out of the K4 League due to issues about their management. They moved to Malaysia with renamed Seoul Phoenix, and were replaced by Sejong SA.[7]

Relegated from K3 League

Newly joined

Promoted to K3 League

  • Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors N

Withdrawn

Stadiums and locations

Locations of the 2025 K4 League teams

A total of eleven teams participated in the 2025 season.[1] FC Chungju relocated to Yeoncheon and changed their name to Yeoncheon FC.[10]

Team City Stadium Capacity
Daegu FC B Daegu Daegu World Cup Stadium 2,500
Dangjin Citizen Dangjin Dangjin Sports Complex 66,422
Geoje Citizen Geoje Geoje Sports Park 3,000
Gijang United Gijang Jeonggwan Sports Healing Park 2,200
Jinju Citizen Jinju Jinju Sports Complex
Modeok Sports Park[11][12]		 20,116
?
Namyangju FC Namyangju Namyangju Sports Complex 2,901
Pyeongchang United Pyeongchang Jinbu Sports Park 300
Pyeongtaek Citizen Pyeongtaek Sosabug Sports Town 12,738
Sejong SA Sejong Sejong Citizen's Stadium 996
Seoul Jungnang Seoul Jungnang District Field 400
Yeoncheon FC Yeoncheon Yeoncheon Sports Complex 9,000

Season overview

Namyangju FC and Pyeongchang United recruited South Korea internationals Suk Hyun-jun and Hwang Mun-ki as social service personnels respectively.[13][14]

Ghanaian player Isaac Osei and Brazilian player Roberto Henrique played for Daegu FC B and Sejong SA respectively, becoming the only two foreign players of this season.

Namyangju FC started the season well, going 9 matches undefeated and earning 6 wins from those 9 matches. Pyeongchang United FC too started well, going undefeated for the first 8 matches. Newcomers Gijang United FC had a respectable start with 1 win, 1 draw and 2 losses, while fellow newcomers Sejong SA FC had to wait 9 before earning their first victory.

By mid-season, the league had taken shape. Namyangju was still leading the way, with Dangjin close behind in the second automatic promotion spot. Jinju and Pyeonchang United were close, holding strong in the playoff position. League newcomers Gijang United FC and Sejong SA FC had found their feet and were starting to challenge for mid-table positions. Although not technically newcomers, Yeoncheon FC were similarly finding their feet. Seoul Jungnang FC were still struggling with 12 losses from their first 17 matches. Their draw against Gijang and win against Pyeongtaek Citizen FC were forfeit when it was discovered that they had fielded an ineligible player.

As the end of the season grew closer, it seemed clear that the fight would be mainly between Namyangju and Dangjin, with Pyeongchang United right on their heels. However, Gijang's form improved so much that they managed won 6 matches straight, recorded a draw and another two wins. Going into the final two rounds, 5 teams were mathematically still able to win the league.

Despite Namyangju entering the final third of the season as the clear favourites, they finished the season with 4 losses in a row, allowing Dangjin to overtake them on goal difference and claim the league title along with automatic promotion.

During the season, two K3 League teams stated their intention to join the professional K League 2, prompting changes in the K3/K4 promotion relegation rules. Under the new rules, only one team would gain automatic promotion to the K3 League, and the second placed team would enter a playoff against the last team in K3 League. [15]

Namyangju went on to lose the promotion-relegation play-off 0-1 against FC Mokpo[16]

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Dangjin Citizen (C, P) 30 16 3 11 72 54 +18 51 Promotion to 2026 K3 League[17]
2 Namyangju 30 15 6 9 47 33 +14 51 Qualification for Promotion-Relegation Play-off
3 Pyeongchang United 30 13 10 7 49 38 +11 49
4 Jinju Citizen 30 14 7 9 55 48 +7 49
5 Gijang United 30 15 4 11 45 40 +5 49
6 Geoje Citizen 30 14 6 10 63 49 +14 48
7 Daegu B 30 13 9 8 44 30 +14 48
8 Yeoncheon 30 10 7 13 39 61 −22 37
9 Pyeongtaek Citizen 30 8 8 14 46 64 −18 32
10 Sejong SA 30 7 8 15 45 56 −11 29
11 Seoul Jungnang 30 4 4 22 44 76 −32 16
Source: JoinKFA Soccerway
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

Results

February to 18 August:

Home \ Away DJ DGB GJ GJU JJ NYJ PC PT SJ JN YC
Dangjin — 2–1 4–2 2–1 5–2 0–1 0–1 8–0 1–0 4–2 3–0
Daegu B 1–2 — 0–1 1–0 2–1 3–0 1–1 0–0 2–2 3–0 2–2
Geoje 4–1 1–1 — 0–0 2–2 1–3 5–0 3–1 2–2 4–2 1–0
Gijang 3–2 0–3 1–2 — 1–3 0–3 1–0 6–3 1–1 1–0 3–1
Jinju 3–3 1–1 3–2 1–0 — 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–1 0–2 3–0
Namyangju 3–0 1–2 4–3 0–1 2–0 — 2–1 0–0 2–1 3–2 3–0
Pyeongchang 1–4 1–0 1–1 1–0 4–1 1–1 — 3–0 1–1 2–1 1–1
Pyeongtaek 3–5 0–1 2–1 2–1 0–2 0–1 2–4 — 3–2 3–0[a] 1–1
Sejong 4–2 1–3 2–0 1–3 1–2 1–0 1–2 2–3 — 2–1 2–3
Seoul Jungnang 3–2 0–1 1–4 0–3[a] 2–4 0–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 — 2–3
Yeoncheon 0–3 2–1 1–1 0–0 4–1 0–0 0–5 1–2 3–2 4–3 —
Updated to match(es) played on 18 August 2025. Source: JoinKFA Soccerway
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.


23 August to November:

Home \ Away DJ DGB GJ GJU JJ NYJ PC PT SJ JN YC
Dangjin — — — 3–3 — 2–0 — — 4–0 — 4–1
Daegu B 4–0 — — 2–1 — 0–0 — — — 2–0 2–0
Geoje 2–0 3–1 — 2–3 — — — — 1–0 — 2–3
Gijang — — 1–0 — 1–0 3–2 — — 0–3 — 3–0
Jinju 4–1 3–2 1–3 — — — — 4–1 — 5–3 —
Namyangju — — 2–3 — 0–0 — 0–0 5–7 4–0 — —
Pyeongchang 1–1 2–0 — 3–2 0–2 — — — — 5–2 —
Pyeongtaek 0–2 0–1 1–2 1–2 — — — — — — —
Sejong — 1–1 4–3 — 0–0 — 1–3 0–0 — — 1–2
Seoul Jungnang 4–2 — — 1–2 — 1–2 — — 1–4 — 4–0
Yeoncheon — — — — 1–3 1–0 3–1 2–2 3–2 — —
Source: JoinKFA Soccerway
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

^a Seoul Jungnang FC fielded an ineligible player and the 3-5 results was forfeit.[18]

Promotion play-off

The promotion play-off was contested between the 15th place of K3 League and the 2nd place of K4 League.

FC Mokpo1–0Namyangju FC
Ryu Yeon-joon 63' Report

Statistics

As of 15 November 2025.

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Gu Hyun-woo Dangjin Citizen 20
2 Ko Byung-beom Pyeongtaek Citizen 15
3 Lee Dong-jin Sejong SA 15
4 Kim Su-seong Pyeongchang United 13
5 Kim Gyeong-gu Geoje Citizen 12

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date
Kim Hye-seong Dangjin Citizen Pyeongtaek Citizen 8–0 (H) 24 May 2025
Kim Hong Dangjin Citizen Seoul Jungnang 4-2 (H) 7 June 2025
Gu Hyun-woo Dangjin Citizen Sejong SA 4–0 (H) 23 August 2025
Lee Dong-jin Sejong SA Seoul Jungnang 1–4 (A) 6 September 2025
June-hyuk Ahn Seoul Jungnang Dangjin Citizen 4-2 (H) 15 November 2025

Most Assists

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Bak Yo-Han Pyeongchang United 16
2 Jeong Hyun-woo Pyeongtaek Citizen 10
3 Bak Kyong-min Jinju Citizen 9
4 Kim Jae-cheol Sejong SA 7
Seo Gyeong-ju Dangjin Citizen 7

Clean sheets

Rank Player Club Clean
sheets
1 Bak Han-geun Namyangju FC 9
Kim Min-geun Gijang United 9
4 Yoo Jong-min Pyeongchang United 6
Lee Tae-heui Geoje Citizen 6
Kim Won-Jeong Jinju Citizen 6

Discipline

Players

  • Most yellow cards: 10
    • Lee Si-hun (Yeoncheon FC)
  • Most straight red cards: 1
    • Lee Hyeon-jo (Pyeongchang United)
    • Gang Seong-yun (Pyeongtaek)
    • Kim U-jin (Pyeongtaek)
    • Bak Jin-bae (Gijang United)
    • Lee Je-uk (Daegu FC B)
    • Shim Min (Sejong SA)
    • Oh Chang-gwon (Sejong SA)
    • Ma Ji-gang (Sejong SA)
    • Kim Jae-bong (Seoul Jungnang)
    • Bak Jae-u (Jinju)
    • Kim Yun-Hyeon (Yeoncheon)

Club

  • Most yellow cards: 57
    • Yeoncheon
  • Fewest yellow cards: 34
    • Namyangju
  • Most red cards: 3 (Excluding double yellow)
    • Sejong SA
  • Most red cards: 6 (Including double yellow)
    • Pyeongcaek Citizen
  • Fewest red cards: 0 (Includes double yellow)
    • Geoje Citizen
    • Dangjin Citizen

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Lee, Hyeong-ho (20 February 2025). 2025 K4리그 22일 개막…11개 팀 9개월간 경쟁 [2025 K4 League will open on the 22nd... 11 teams will compete for 9 months] (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  2. ^ Korea Football Association [@thekfa_k3k4league]; (5 February 2025). 2025 K4리그 일정표 [2025 K4 League schedule] (in Korean). Retrieved 6 February 2025 – via Instagram.
  3. ^ Ko, Sung-hwan (27 February 2025). '15개팀 참가' 2025 K3리그, 3월 1일 개막...8개월 대장정 막 올린다 [With 15 participating teams, the 2025 K3 League will begin its 8-month odyssey on 1 March]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  4. ^ Park, Geon-do (8 September 2025). K3·K4리그 승강제 방식 바뀌었다... 2025시즌부터 적용 [The promotion and relegation systems between K3 and K4 Leagues was changed... it will be applied since the 2025 season] (in Korean). Starnews Korea. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  5. ^ Park, Ju-hyun (26 November 2024). 전주시민축구단 '임금체불, 팀 해체' 진상조사·책임규명 요구 '빗발'...전주시의회, 행정사무감사 '시민 참여 제안' 관련 민원 '폭증' 불구 외면 '빈축' [The civil complaints about overdue wages and dissolution of Jeonju Citizen FC are rapidly increasing... Jeonju's city council is being criticised for ignoring these]. Voices of Jeonbuk (in Korean). Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  6. ^ Lee, Yu-bin (15 January 2025). '2024 K4리그 득점왕+도움왕' 배출한 서울노원 UTD, 해체 선언 [Seoul Nowon United, which generated 'top goalscorer and top assist provider of the 2024 K4 League', announced their disbandment]. Korea Entertainment and Sports (in Korean). Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  7. ^ Kim, Jung-gyu (12 November 2024). 세종SA축구단 창단, 내년부터 K4리그 참가한다 [Sejong SA FC were founded, and will participate at K4 League next year]. Voices of Sejong (in Korean). Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  8. ^ Kim, Ga-eul (21 January 2025). 대구FC B팀 사령탑으로 새 도전, 박원재 감독 "선수들 열심히 해줘 감사…잘 성장시키겠다" [Park Won-jae's new challenge as Daegu FC B head coach: "I'm grateful for the players who work hard... I must help them to develop well"]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  9. ^ Im, Soon-taek (23 February 2025). 기장군민축구단 2025 K4리그 첫 경기서 0-1로 패배 [Gijang United FC lost 1–0 in their first match at the 2025 K4 League]. Herald Business (in Korean). Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  10. ^ 충주시 'FC충주' 퇴출…충북, 세미프로팀 없어 (in Korean). Chungcheong Review. 4 December 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  11. ^ 2025 시즌 홈경기장 임시 변경 안내 [2025 Season Home Stadium Temporary Change Notice]. Jinju Citizen FC. 10 February 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  12. ^ 모덕체육공원 관람 안내 [Guide to visiting the Modeok Sports Park]. Instagram. Jinju Citizen FC. 10 February 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  13. ^ [오피셜] 석현준, K4 남양주FC 입단…"집행유예 기간 끝·등록 문제없었다". Nate (in Korean). Ilgan Sports. 13 February 2025. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  14. ^ [인터뷰] 입대 앞둔 황문기 "베스트11 선정과 국대 발탁, 아내와 약속 지켰다". Nate (in Korean). Ilyo Shinmun. 2 January 2025. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  15. ^ Bak, Geon-do (8 September 2025). "K3·K4리그 승강제 방식 바뀌었다... 2025시즌부터 적용 [공식발표]" [The K3 and K4 league promotion and relegation system has changed... Effective from 2025 season]. Star News. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  16. ^ Im, Byeong-seong (25 November 2025). "FC목포, K3리그 잔류 확정! 남양주 꺾고 '생존 드라마' 완성" [FC Mokpo conformed to stay in K3 League]. Korean Sports Communication. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  17. ^ The promotion relegation structure was changed for the 2025 season due to Hwaseong FC being promoted to K League 2.
  18. ^ Yoon, Jin-man (29 May 2025). ""부정선수 투입은 몰수패다" K4리그 중랑 미승인 선수 논란에 관한 협회의 판단" [ntroducing an illegal player is a forfeiture" The association's decision on the controversy over the unapproved player in K4 League Jungrang] (in Korean). Sports Joseon. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
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