2026 K League 1 Team Guide & Season Preview

The 2026 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 and a season preview.

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 play 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 2026 season will be the last of this format before a big shake-up in 2027.

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 would normally be relegated to K League 2; 10th and 11th would then enter the Promotion-Relegation Playoffs against teams from K League 2. But with the top tier expanding to 14 teams from 2027, it's a bit different this season. Only Gimcheon will be relegated automatically due to the army team's stay in the city coming to an end. Should another team other than Gimcheon finish 12th, they will face the runners-up of the K League 2 Promotion Playoff Final in a Promotion-Relegation Playiff. More on that here.

FC Anyang

Citizen club FC Anyang were one of the founding members of K League 2 in 2013. The Violets had remained in the second division right up until 2024, when they secured a historic promotion after several playoff heartbreaks. Anyang won the K League 2 title under fledgling manager Ryu Byeong-hoon, who then guided the Violets to a comfortable eighth-place finish in 2025. Anyang's survival last year means that they became the first team new to K League 1 to stay up in their first season.

The aim for 2026 is to build on last year, despite losing top scorer Bruno Mota to Jeonbuk. Winger Choi Geon-ju from Daejeon will add pace to the attack, while goalkeeper Kim Jeong-hoon will look to cement himself as a no. 1. Dutch jack of all trades Thomas Oude Kotte will be seen as their key player, a midfield driving force, or as a marauding defender but the biggest question will be whether they can be just as potent without Bruno Mota. Although FC Anyang are showing that a city-owned football club can bloody the noses of the big boys in the top flight and will be an entertaining watch in 2026.

2026 Target: Mid-tableHonours: K League 2 Winners (2024)Highest K League 1 Finish: 8th (2025)

[READ: FC Anyang 2026 Season Preview]

Bucheon FC 1995

Spawned following Bucheon SK's move to Jeju Island and becoming Jeju United (now Jeju SK), citizen club Bucheon FC 1995 joined K League 2 in 2013 after five years in the Challengers League, now K3. There had been a handful of failed playoff campaigns over the years, but the club's hierarchy stuck by long-serving manager Lee Young-min. Such loyalty was rewarded when Lee guided Bucheon to promotion via the playoffs in 2025, beating Suwon FC in both legs, to set up the club's maiden season in the top flight.

The aim for 2026 will be to do what FC Anyang did and not only stay up but stay up with relative ease. With K League 1 expanding from 2027, it will be easier for teams to survive, but Bucheon have been busy in the transfer window. Yoon Bit-garam, Vitor Gabriel, Kim Jong-woo, Kim Min-jun, Shin Jae-won, and An Tae-hyun are all players of experience and quality. Brazilian attacking midfielder Rodrigo Bassani will be seen as the team's key player. In the prime of hiscareer and with leadership qualities, Bassani has the ability to win games on his own. There's always an element of intrigue when a new team is promoted, so Bucheon will be worth keeping tabs on in the new season.

2026 Target: Survival

Honours: 2025 Promotion-Relegation Playoff 2 winners

[READ: Bucheon FC 1995 2026 Season Preview]

Daejeon Hana Citizen

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 now-demolished Hanbat Stadium. Attendances showed that the citizens of Daejeon wanted a professional football team. Thus, in 1997, Daejeon Citizen were 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, and receiving big financial backing with the aim of becoming a "global football club."

Daejeon first suffered a second relegation in 2015 - after a first in 2013 - but sealed a long-awaited return to the top flight in 2022 after overcoming Gimcheon Sangmu in the playoffs. After two years of trying to stay afloat, the club secured ACLE qualification in 2025 and has even loftier aspirations for 2026, aiming to challenge for the title. There's been a quality over quantity approach to the transfer window, with wing duo Gustav Ludwigson and Um Won-sang joining from Ulsan. Newly-appointed skipper Joo Min-kyu and key player will be looked to to guide Daejeon to the title, but with expectations and pressure, can Daejeon put their money where their mouths are?

2026 Target: ChampionshipHonours: Promotion-Relegation Playoff 1 Winners (2022), K League 2 Winners (2014), FA Cup Winners (2001)

Highest K League 1 Finish: 2nd (2025)

[READ: Daejeon Hana Citizen 2026 Season Preview]

Gangwon FC

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 yet to lift silverware but finished second in 2024 to secure their best-ever finish, and are enjoying their first-ever taste of continental football.

With Jeong Kyung-ho heading into a second season as manager, can the Bears kick on? The signing of Goh Young-jun is a real statement of intent, but have the Bears done enough during this hibernation period to significantly strengthen the pack? Kim Dae-won will be seen as the team's key player. Coming into his peak years, Kim will be pivotal in what Gangwon does, adding width and guile. Jeong Kyung-ho is known as a big of a tactician, will the Gangwon fans see something a bit different in 2026?

2026 Target: Top 6Honours: Promotion Winners (2016)

Highest K League 1 Finish: 2nd (2024)

[READ: Gangwon FC 2026 Season Preview]

Gimcheon Sangmu

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 will move again after this season, meaning relegation beckons regardless of where the team finishes in 2026. After back-to-back third-place finishes in 2024 and 2025, the relocation will put an end to a three-year stay back in the top flight.

There's a new manager at the helm in Joo Seung-jin, who previously had a caretaker spell in charge of Suwon Bluewings in 2020, and led Hwaseong FC to second in K3 in 2024. There's also a fresh batch of recruits, headlined by Lee Sang-heon, Byeon Jun-soo, and Hong Yun-sang. But with relegation already confirmed, how motivated will Gimcheon be? When Sangju Sangmu were in this situation in 2020, they finished fourth. Gimcheon will want to demonstrate that they can perform just as well, but will Joo Seung-jin's lack of K League 1 managerial experience be a factor? It's set to be an interesting year for Gimcheon.

2026 Target: Top 6Honours: K League 2 Winners (2021, 2023)

Highest K League 1 Finish: 3rd (2024, 2025)

Gwangju FC

Gwangju FC were born when the 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. Under former manager Lee Jung-hyo, the club made great leaps forward, including a third-place finish in 2023 and a foray into the AFC Champions League, reaching the quarterfinals.

But Lee has gone, so too have a number of important players such as Reis, Byun Jun-soo, Cho Seong-gwon, and Lee Kang-hyun. Winter incomings have been very modest, with a new second-choice goalkeeper, Lee Yoon-sung, and 31-year-old defender Park Won-jae from Gyeongnam. Icelandic striker Hólmbert Aron Fridjónsson will be seen as the team's key player, tasked with firing the Griffins to safety. It looks set to be a tough year for Gwangju, with survival the realistic aim. Pressure will also be on rookie manager Lee Jung-gyu, who served as assistant to Lee Jung-hyo, to work with the players who are left. With no automatic relegation place this year, Gwangju may just be able to cling on to their top-flight status, but 12th place would mean a promotion-relegation playoff. Can they avoid that, at least?

2026 Target: Avoid relegationHonours: K League 2 Winners (2019, 2022), Promotion-Relegation Playoff Winners (2014)Highest K League 1 Finish: 3rd (2023)

Incheon United

Incheon United played their first season back in 2004, and by their second, they managed to reach the Championship Playoff Final, where they finished as runners-up to Ulsan. The Blue-Black have not quite reached those heights since, but did finish fourth in 2022 and qualified for the AFC Champions League. Incheon became known as relegation escape artists, but were unable to beat the drop in 2024. They won the K League 2 title at a canter last season, and with Yoon Jong-hwan at the helm, a manager who guided Gangwon FC to second in 2024, there'll be optimism of a strong showing upon their top-flight return.

Recruitment has been impressive, with 'giant defender' Jeong Tae-wook signing, as well as Lee Chung-yong and tricky winger Oh Hu-seong. But Gerso Fernandes, who won the K League 2 MVP Award last year, will be seen as their key player with his pace, direct nature, and cool finishing. The biggest question facing Incheon is whether they can shake the relegation escape artist tag and push on, getting back to where they were in 2022 and 2023 when earning back-to-back top six finishes. Conservatively, survival will be the first priority, but internally, a place in mid-table will be seen as more than in reach.

2026 Target: Mid-tableHonours: K League 2 title (2025)Highest K League 1 Finish: 2nd (2005)

[READ: Incheon United 2026 Season Preview]

Jeju SK

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 three seasons, and last year, a narrow escape from relegation in the playoffs.

But there's a new manager in charge. Portuguese Sergio Costa, the former assistant manager to Paulo Bento with the national team, has been tasked with finding the Tangerines' sweet spot once again. Nam Tae-hee, despite being in talks with Daejeon and a club in Qatar, is staying and will be Jeju's key player again this season. Important players such as Yuri Jonathan and Kim Seung-seop have left but recruitment has been steady with some newcomers to K League in Brazilian winger Emerson Negueba, French centre back Julien Celestine, and Lithuanian striker Gytis Paulauskas, as well as tried and tested domestic talent such as Kwon Chang-hoon. After such a disappointing campaign last year, Jeju will be looking to consolidate this season and achieve a mid-table finish.

2026 Target: Mid-tableHonours: K League 1 Winners (1989)*, K League 2 Winners (2020)

[READ: Jeju SK 2026 Season Preview]

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

Founded in 1994, it was not until the 21st Century that Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors began to claim silverware and dominate K League. Much of the last decade was spent cementing themselves as a K League powerhouse, lifting nine of their 10 titles in the span of thirteen seasons. 'La Decima' was sealed last year after a three-year league title drought under Gus Poyet, but the Uruguayan has left and in has come former Gimcheon boss Chung Jung-yong.

It's been a busy transfer window with notable departures and arrivals. Hong Jeong-ho, Park Jin-seop, and Song Min-kyu headline the list of outgoings, while the additions of Oberdan, Bruno Mota, and Park Ji-soo represent proven K League 1 quality. The aim is simply to win the title and seal back-to-back championships for the first time since 2020. But has Chung Jung-yong, who despite his successful stint with Gimcheon, underwhelmed with Seoul E-Land in his only other club job. Is the magic that Poyet and his coaching team conjured up still there?

2026 Target: ChampionshipHonours: K League 1 Winners (2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2025), Korea Cup Winners (2000, 2003, 2005, 2020, 2022, 2025), AFC Champions League (2006, 2016)

Pohang Steelers

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 2026 when the Steelers look to add more silverware and try to improve on last year's fourth-place finish.

Winter arrivals include promising centre back Jin Si-woo from Jeonbuk, experienced right back Kim Ye-sung from Jeonnam, forward Jung Han-min from FC Seoul, and Kim Yong-hak on loan from Portimonense in Portugal. Lee Ho-jae is Pohang's key player, but the talented striker is expected to leave for Europe in the summer, so foreign import Jakob Tranziska will be tasked with taking over the main striker starting berth thereafter. Now in his third season in charge, can Park Tae-ha push Pohang further up the table and get the club back into the title reckoning?

2026 Target: ACLE qualificationHonours: 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)

[READ: Pohang Steelers 2026 Season Preview]

FC Seoul

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 four top-six finishes and last year's was as a result of an underwhelming end to the campaign, and one which saw the capital club fall away from being in a strong position.

Manager Kim Gi-dong announced before the winter break that he will continue in his role, despite discontent among the supporters. The pressure will be on to deliver from the start, but the addition of Song Min-kyu represents something of a statement signing and a vote of confidence, at least from the players. Other winter recruits include Leonardo Ruiz from Seongnam, Spanish centre back Juan Antonio Ros, and former Korean international goalkeeper Gu Sung-yun. Lingard has left, so has Lucas Silva as Seoul look to refresh and improve on last year. The aim will be the top three and AFC Champions League qualification, but how much time will Kim Gi-dong be given to turn things around? The pressure's on.

2026 Target: ACLE qualification, Korea Cup winners

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

[READ: FC Seoul 2026 Season Preview]

Ulsan HD

Ulsan HD were three-peat K League champions from 2022 to 2024 but last year only just secured safety from relegation on the final day of the season. They were, and still are, trying to establish something of a dynasty and make up part of the K League's founding members club, having been established in 1983 as the Hyundai Horang-i. The 2025 campaign was a turbulent one for the K League tigers, with three managers at the helm following the dismissals of Kim Pan-gon and Shin Tae-yong and the caretaker stint of Noh Sang-rae.

Now club legend Kim Hyun-seok is in charge, despite failing to reach the playoffs with Jeonnam Dragons in K League 2 last year, but did guide Chungnam Asan to runners-up in 2024. Recruitment has been modest, with Pedrinho from Seoul E-Land and Jeong Jae-sang from Daegu FC the only familiar names. Some notable names have left, such as Gustav Ludwigson, Um Won-sang and Lee Chung-yong. But Lee Dong-gyeong has stayed, despite a reported offer from Leicester City. The Horangi's sharpest claw will be their key player in 2026 as the club looks to regain the trust of their supporters. The aim will be consolidation and to get back on firmer footing, with a place in the top six a more realistic target for 2026. Can club legend Kim Hyun-seok do that, despite his relatively modest CV as a manager?

2026 Target: Top 6

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)

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