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]
Rule changes
The following rules were newly introduced for the 2025 season.[3]
- Concussion substitution rule
- Homegrown foreign player rule for players of foreign nationality who have spent a significant period of their youth career in South Korea
- 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
- Introduction of a one-off Special Player Registration Period 1–10 June 2025
- 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.[4] 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.[5]
Locations
The following twelve clubs are competing in the 2025 K League 1.[6]
Locations of the 2025 K League 1 teams |
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Stadiums
| Daegu FC
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Daejeon Hana Citizen
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Gangwon FC
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| DGB Daegu Bank Park
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Daejeon World Cup Stadium
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Chuncheon Songam Sports Town
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Gangneung Stadium
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| Capacity: 12,415
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Capacity: 40,903
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Capacity: 20,000
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Capacity: 22,333
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| FC Anyang
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Gimcheon Sangmu
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Gwangju FC
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Jeju SK
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| Anyang Stadium
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Gimcheon Stadium
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Gwangju World Cup Stadium
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Jeju World Cup Stadium
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| Capacity: 17,143
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Capacity: 25,000
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Capacity: 40,245
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Capacity: 29,791
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| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
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Pohang Steelers
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FC Seoul
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Suwon FC
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| Jeonju World Cup Stadium
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Pohang Steel Yard
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Seoul World Cup Stadium
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Suwon Stadium
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| Capacity: 42,477
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Capacity: 17,443
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Capacity: 66,704
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Capacity: 11,808
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| Ulsan HD
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| Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
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| Capacity: 44,102
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Managerial changes
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.
- ^ Left their respective clubs during the mid-season transfer window.
League table
Source:
Soccerway K LeagueRules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference; 4) Wins; 5) Head-to-head points
(C) Champions;
(O) Play-off winners;
(R) Relegated
Notes:
- ^ Teams played each other three times (33 matches), before the league was split into two groups, the top six and the bottom six.
- ^ 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 ╲ Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 |
|---|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 3 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
|---|
| Gimcheon Sangmu | 8 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
|---|
| Daejeon Hana Citizen | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
|---|
| Pohang Steelers | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
|---|
| FC Seoul | 11 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
|---|
| Gangwon FC | 8 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
|---|
| FC Anyang | 5 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
|---|
| Gwangju FC | 6 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|
| Ulsan HD | 10 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
|---|
| Suwon FC | 6 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 |
|---|
| Jeju SK | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
|---|
| Daegu FC | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
|---|
Updated to match(es) played on 18 October 2025. Source:
K LeagueNotes:
- 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
Updated to match(es) played on 30 November 2025. Source:
K LeagueResults
Matches 1–22
Teams played each other twice, once at home, once away.
Source:
K LeagueLegend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Matchday 1 (15–16 February)
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Matchday 2 (22–23 February)
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Matchday 4 (8–9, 22 March)
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Matchday 10 (9, 26–27 April)
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Matchday 17 (31 May–1 June)
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Matchday 18 (1 April, 13–14 June)
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Matchday 19 (23 April, 17–18 June)
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Matchday 20 (21–22 June, 2 August)
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Matchday 21 (27–29 June, 12 July)
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Matches 23–33
Teams played each other once, either at home or away.
Source:
K LeagueLegend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Matchday 25 (8–10 August)
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Matchday 26 (15–17 August)
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Matchday 27 (23–24 August)
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Matchday 28 (30–31 August)
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Matchday 29 (13–14 September)
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Matchday 30 (20–21 September)
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Matchday 31 (27–28 September)
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Matchday 32 (3–5 October)
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Matches 34–38
Teams played each other once, either at home or away.
Final A
Source:
K LeagueLegend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Matchday 34 (25–26 October)
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Matchday 36 (8–9 November)
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Matchday 37 (22 November)
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Matchday 38 (30 November)
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Final B
Source:
K LeagueLegend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Matchday 34 (25–26 October)
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Matchday 35 (1–2 November)
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Matchday 36 (8–9 November)
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Matchday 37 (22–23 November)
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Matchday 38 (30 November)
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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.
Jeju SK won 3–0 on aggregate and therefore both clubs remain in their respective leagues.
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
Top assist providers
Awards
Weekly awards
Monthly awards
Annual awards
The 2025 K League Awards was held on 1 December 2025.[14]
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
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