Dividing the division up into 4 primary battles – the league title, AFC Champions League qualification, Remaining A, and relegation – Ok League United appears to be like at every staff’s possibilities forward of the 2025 Ok League 1 season.
Title Contenders: A Two-Horse Race?
Ulsan HD
Reigning champions for the final three seasons, Ulsan HD have a number of aims this season. The Horangi are aiming to enhance their AFC Champions League Elite kind and attain the knockout section of the FIFA Membership World Cup, however the very minimal they will be anticipated to realize is a fourth Ok League 1 title in a row. Ulsan have used the winter switch window to hold out a generational shift throughout the enjoying squad, signing the likes of Lee Jin-hyun, Heo Yool, Lee Hui-gyun, and Web optimization Myung-kwan. The 2025 Ok League 1 season will probably be Kim Pan-gon’s first full marketing campaign in cost and he needs his staff to dominate matches extra. With different groups not fairly there but, their nearest opponents nonetheless present process rebuilds or in intervals of transition, Ulsan will probably be favourites for the title.
Full season preview:
FC Seoul
FC Seoul are a staff within the midst of a transition interval however will probably be seen as essentially the most outfitted to problem Ulsan HD. Jesse Lingard is the brand new captain and the membership have signed gamers with a ‘win-now’ mindset, searching for short-term success – specifically Kim Jin-su, Moon Seon-min, and Jeong Seung-won. Seoul are nonetheless a high striker away from profitable the league however ought to push Ulsan shut. Final 12 months’s fourth-place end and potential ACL qualification marked much-needed progress for this stumbling large of a soccer membership. Lingard will probably be seen because the staff’s key participant, maybe feeling further goal-scoring accountability with Iljutcenko gone. The most important query for the capital membership is solely whether or not they can construct on final 12 months and get entangled within the title race.
Full season preview:
AFC Champions League Qualification: Better of the Relaxation
Pohang Steelers
After a 2024 season stuffed with ups and downs, Pohang Steelers look to dig their boots into the bottom within the fixed upstream battle of Ok League 1. A Korea Cup win to make it two cup triumphs in as a few years maybe masked the disappointing drop-off within the league which resulted in a sixth-place end. It has been a reasonably modest switch window for the Steelers with Juninho Rocha from Chungnam Asan and Kim Beom-su from Ansan Greeners being the one senior incomings. As has been the case for the previous couple of seasons, Oberdan will probably be key for Pohang along with his function within the build-up and transferring by way of the thirds essential. The most important query, although, centres on the gamers’ health as many had suffered accidents final 12 months – Lee Ho-jae, Han Chan-hee, Oberdan, and Hong Yun-sang. Will there be extra ‘Tae-ha Drama’ this 12 months? Pohang’s late targets would possibly simply assist them attain their targets of a spot within the high three or past.
Full season preview:
Gangwon FC
Due to a extremely profitable 2024, Gangwon FC come into the brand new 12 months seeking to present they’re able to tackle the challenges forward. Final 12 months’s runners-up have had a busy switch window as they give the impression of being to steadiness home competitions with the AFC Champions League Elite. Yang Min-hyeok and Cling Mun-ki have left, as too the supervisor Yoon Jong-hwan along with his assistant Jeong Kyung-ho taking up, however in have come some trusted veterans in Yun Il-lok and Hong Chul, to not point out brilliant wingers Kim Min-jun and Kang Yun-gu from Ulsan, Chungnam Asan playoff star Kang Jun-hyuck, and defensive midfielder Choi Han-sol – qualityand amount the obvious theme of the Bears method. Lee Sang-heon had a profession 12 months final season and will probably be seemed upon to supply once more this season as Gangwon’s key participant. The query, although, is what precisely are Gangwon’s ambitions? Can they get right into a title race once more this season, or at the least safe ACL qualification for one more 12 months?
Full season preview:
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors look to tug away from a calamitous 2024 and put the sudden spectre of relegation firmly within the rear-view mirror as they considerably gratefully put together for one more top-flight Ok League marketing campaign. Gus Poyet has been tasked with restoring stability and igniting Champions-like performances from a bloated squad of heavy investments that ought to have one thing to show. It has, nonetheless, been a quiet switch window for the Inexperienced Warriors. Goalkeeper Music Bum-keun has returned and skilled centre again Kim Younger-bin has joined to interchange Lee Jae-ik who has joined Ulsan, in addition to promising full again Choi Woo-jin to interchange an FC Seoul-bound Kim Jin-su. Attacking midfielder Kim Jin-gyu will probably be seen as the important thing participant after making an affect within the second half of the season as soon as he returned from navy service. However the largest query is, is Gus Poyet the supervisor to sort things? He has a giant job on his fingers, steering this juggernaut off the overwhelmed monitor and again on the street to success once more. Cup competitions might get precedence however high 4 needs to be the minimal for Jeonbuk.
Full season preview:
Prime Six: Security Sealed Early?
Daejeon Hana Citizen
After two relegation battles, Hwang Solar-hong and his males will probably be seeking to draw back from the decrease reaches of the desk and safe a top-six end. Final season’s speak of ACL qualification was a tad naive and, in the end, set the Purples up for a fall. Likewise, any speak of ACL this 12 months can be untimely, however with confirmed Ok League 1 gamers equivalent to Joo Min-kyu, Ha Chang-rae, and Jeong Jae-hee arriving, amongst others, Daejeon have squad and can really feel assured {that a} Remaining A end is inside their attain. The Purples had been arrange properly underneath Hwang final 12 months, helped by techniques coach Tatsuma Yoshida, enjoying with an efficient press and with two false nines. However there are anticipated to be tweaks, particularly as Hwang now wants to suit all these new gamers into his system. One participant who will probably be key once more this 12 months is Masatoshi Ishida, whose targets and assists helped preserve the membership up final 12 months. Daejeon needs to be good to look at once more subsequent 12 months and needs to be good for fifth or sixth, which might characterize a primary top-division top-half end since 2007.
Full season preview:
Gimcheon Sangmu
Now positively staying in Gimcheon for the following two seasons, Chung Jung-yong and his gamers can now focus purely on on-the-field issues. They are going to be on the lookout for extra of the identical as they head right into a second consecutive season in Ok League 1, following their spectacular third-place end final 12 months. What’s attention-grabbing about this present Gimcheon aspect and the timing of its subsequent batch of recruits, is that over 10 new gamers will be a part of however not till April – together with Go Jae-hyun, Kim Joo-chan, Lee Soo-bin, and Jeon Byeong-kwan. Lee Dong-gyeong will probably be with the squad for a lot of the season and will probably be seen as Gimcheon’s key participant after an excellent season in 2024. The targets dried up barely as soon as he moved to Gimcheon however the on-loan Horangi did handle to get 5 in 19 outings for the military aspect. The most important query dealing with Gimcheon is solely whether or not they can match final 12 months’s ranges. They need to, nonetheless, be good for a top-six end.
Full season preview:
Gwangju FC
Gwangju could not fairly attain the heights of 2023 final time period, ending the season in ninth, however did impress within the AFC Champions League Elite. This season, with some notable arrivals and departures, the most important query will probably be about whether or not supervisor Lee Jung-hyo can get a tune out of this restricted squad. Reis has returned and Asani has stayed, however the membership’s switch coverage has seemingly been to buff up some tough diamonds with the likes of Park In-hyeok, Kwon Sung-hyun, Park Jeong-in, Yu Je-ho, and Hwang Jae-hwan. Jasir Asani would be the key man for the Griffins and, after being frozen out for a lot of the first half of final 12 months, made a press release when he was reintroduced to the squad along with his efficiency ranges, notably within the ACL. With Heo Yool, Lee Hui-gyun, and Jeong Ho-yeon gone, and gamers missing in top-flight expertise coming in, it stays to be seen whether or not this Gwangju aspect can avoid the underside three however Lee Jung-hyo has labored wonders earlier than.
Relegation Battle: A Deadly 4-Manner?
Daegu FC
Daegu FC’s top-flight standing was solely secured through the playoffs after ending in a disappointing eleventh place, and they’re going to, after all, be hoping to lookup quite than down this 12 months in what will probably be coach Park Chang-hyun’s first full season on the helm. Maybe the most important signing of the winter to date has been the re-signing of common midfielder Bruno Lamas, with the Brazilian getting back from Busan IPark after enjoying there for the previous three seasons. Elsewhere, left-sided full again Jeong Woo-jae has returned residence after 5 years away and Park Dae-hoon has been signed from Chungnam Asan, having notched two targets towards his new aspect within the first leg of the playoff video games. Cesinha remains to be Daegu’s key man, even at 35, netting 13 targets and aiding an extra 9 final 12 months. The most important query will probably be whether or not Park Chang-hyun is the suitable man to take the membership ahead and keep away from the relegation zone. For the neutrals, Daegu video games had been usually high-scoring and their counterattacking fashion is seldom ever boring.
Full season preview:
FC Anyang
FC Anyang shocked Ok League 2 by topping the desk and incomes a first-ever promotion to the primary division of Korean soccer final autumn. Avoiding computerized relegation will probably be their goal in 2025. Headline strikes embrace former Premier Leaguer Kim Bo-kyung and Brazilian hitman Bruno Mota, who was unfortunate to lose out on the MVP award after scoring 16 targets for a poor Cheonan aspect. Final season’s Ok League 2 MVP Matheus Oliveira will probably be their key man once more this 12 months along with his selflessness in key attacking positions. The most important query, although, will probably be whether or not Anyang are shrinking violets or not and might defend properly. Veteran goalkeeper Kim Da-sol will probably be stored busy however stored 13 clear sheets in 35 matches final 12 months. Anyang are the primary staff since Suwon FC in 2016 to be enjoying in Ok League 1 for the very first time and have the grudge matches with FC Seoul to stay up for in what will probably be a courageous battle towards relegation.
Suwon FC
Suwon FC enter the 2025 season underneath a thick cloud of uncertainty following a raft of key departures within the final six months. Jeong Seung-won has joined FC Seoul however the membership have been busy bringing in some contemporary overseas imports, Mohamed Ofkir, Leroy Abanda, and Pablo Sabbag in addition to a complete host of gamers from Ok League 2 however many whom supervisor Kim Eun-jung has labored with earlier than. Suwon’s key participant will, once more, be Anderson Oliveira. The magic man is a participant of such immense high quality that even when the remainder of the staff is struggling, he offers them hope of snatching a degree from near-certain defeat. However, is there sufficient high quality to extend their keep in Ok League 1? Suwon had been amongst among the fairytale tales of final 12 months and are the final word underdog so there are nonetheless loads of causes to look at the Citadel Park aspect in 2025. A top-six and even ACL place stands out as the membership, but when the staff do not begin properly, a relegation battle could possibly be on the playing cards.
Jeju SK
After ending ninth in 2023, on paper, a seventh-place place in 2024 looks as if an enchancment. Nevertheless, with essentially the most defeats within the league final season, and the worst objective distinction, the Islanders will probably be aiming for a greater 2025. It’s no shock, then, to see that Jeju SK have bolstered their defence with the signings of Jang Min-kyu, Kim Jae-woo, and Kim Ryun-seong in addition to promising midfielder Oh Jae-hyeok. Different notable incoming embrace skilled left-sided participant Yoo In-soo from Gangwon and striker Park Dong-jin from FC Seoul. The staff’s key participant will probably be strong striker Yuri Jonathan, who’ll be trying so as to add extra targets to his recreation after an honest tally of 10 final 12 months. After Remaining B finishes in current seasons, it is time for Jeju to tug away from the underside six and have a look at reaching Remaining A. That’ll be the goal for Kim Hak-bum and his gamers this season however there are query marks over whether or not there’s sufficient high quality for the staff to be constant.