The K League 1 Wrap-Up: Suwon FC and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Earn Potentially Season-Defining Wins

In a generally entertaining weekend of football, it's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Suwon FC who have came away as perhaps the biggest winners. With that in mind, columnist Nathan Sartain returns to recap all the action from round 14 of the 2025 K League 1 season.

Green is the New Orange. Kind Of

Last year, after having a generally fine start to the 2024 season, Gangwon FC began to rocket themselves towards title contention with great form that sustained itself throughout May and June. Inconsistencies were ironed out, a greater tactical balance was found, and points kept coming.

In 2025, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors are starting to feel like they’re following a similar trend. Also buoyed by a forward-thinking winger (yes, Jeon Jin-woo is several years older than Yang Min-hyeok but allow the tenuous link), the Green Warriors have settled into a rhythm under Gus Poyet recently, one which sees them capable of both grinding out wins and striding towards them. This weekend, it was a bit of both in a 2-0 victory over FC Anyang, with the goals themselves comfortable enough, but the Violets' own pressure very real, and something that required some stern defending. Still, this is a Jeonbuk side which has only conceded once in its last four games, and is now unbeaten in their last ten, possessing the kind of resolve that had been missing during a relegation scare in 2024.

Thinking long-term, these bursts of form are familiar to Jeonbuk fans, and as such they’ll want to be comfortable in reinstalling higher expectations around the club (and subsequently write off the last couple of years as major blips) going forward. Next up for the Green Warriors is a trip to Jeju for a match which actually could see - at least temporarily - a new team occupying first-place.

[READ: The K League 1 Wrap-Up: Pohang Steelers' Steady Form Continues, Gimcheon Sangmu Win Big, and Jeonbuk Edge Closer to First-Place.]

Ulsan 720p

As far as title defences go, Ulsan HD aren’t exactly proving that they’ll be gunning for top-spot come the end of the season. While they are still third (albeit with two more games played than the clubs around them), too many times they’ve had to eek out results - Jo Hyeon-woo’s penalty saves alone have secured the team an additional three points this year - or conceded goals at key periods. Just this past weekend for example, a Cho Jin-hyuk stoppage time equaliser meant the Horangi dropped points away at Gangwon FC, stunting the kind of momentum a reigning champion should conceivably be consistently getting.

Is it a disaster? No. Ulsan are firmly in the mix in Final A, and as results like the 3-0 over Gwangju FC suggest, there’s certainly enough quality in this squad to push past rough patches. At the same time, however, a 7-4-5 record doesn’t inspire a great deal of belief either, and fans are going to rightly want more than individual moments of quality to see positive results through. Consistency and team performances will be the greatest formula to push Kim Pan-gon’s men towards another title challenge, as will a bit more proactivity when in the driver’s seat to create wider margins for error.

Suwon FC's Sunday Night Springboard?

Throughout 2025, Suwon FC have needed a season-defining result. Yes, their dramatic 3-2 win over Gimcheon Sangmu could have technically counted as that, but with the benefit of hindsight, it didn’t lead to a sustained push of form to boost the team’s overall fortunes.

Following round 14, you’d have to think a definitive 3-0 win over current league leaders Daejeon Hana Citizen could provide that necessary springboard for Kim Eun-jung’s men. If you just look at the times the goals were scored you’d think it was a bit of a late show, but 19 shots on target tells a story of constant attacking, and a real urgency for every player to prove themselves up against title challengers. Suwon felt like the club which finished in Final A last year again, and importantly like they knew to just trust star player Anderson could make things happen whenever the ball was near him.

Now up to 10th, Suwon have to look at this weekend as an opportunity to strengthen their self-belief, or at least reaffirm to themselves that survival is well within reach should they keep to a similar performance level as the campaign progresses.

What Else Happened in Round 14?

On Saturday, Gimcheon Sangmu failed to build on last week’s 4-0 away thrashing of Gangwon FC, and could only manage a 1-1 draw when at home to 11th-place Jeju SK. Generally, it was an even game though, with the Tangerines giving one of their better away performances, and responding well when a goal behind. Yuri scoring four goals in his last five appearances is a major help too, as Kim Hak-beom will need to lean on his star players in the coming months.

Breaking their winless streak of seven league games, and adding a bit of daylight between themselves and potential danger, FC Seoul triumphed 1-0 away at now bottom-place Daegu FC. Again, the capital city side pelted an opposition box, taking 16 shots on goal, and showing why despite some attacking shortcomings they do still rank second for xG (21.2) and touches in the opposition box (347). If higher quality chances can be fashioned, Seoul could easily climb the table, whilst Daegu need to find a permanent manager soon in their bid to steer away from relegation threat.

And finally, Gwangju FC secured a 1-0 win away at Pohang Steelers, keeping them in touch with the hunt for an AFC Champions League Elite place. Just like other matches, it was a pretty level affair, but Park In-hyeok’s 89th-minute breakthrough was enough to secure the three points for the Griffins, and only their fourth-ever victory against Pohang.