News: Ulsan HD and Head Coach Kim Pan-gon Part Ways by Mutual Consent

Ulsan HD have parted ways with head coach Kim Pan-gon. On August 1st, Coach Kim Pan-gon, acknowledging responsibility for the team’s recent poor results, mutually agreed with the club to terminate his contract following discussions.

As a result, the rescheduled Hana Bank K League 1 2025 Round 20 match between Ulsan and Suwon FC, set to take place at 7 PM on August 2nd at Munsu Football Stadium, is expected to serve as Kim Pan-gon’s farewell match.

Kim took the reins as Ulsan HD’s 12th head coach on July 28, 2024, during the season and led the club to its third consecutive K League 1 title (2022–2024), bringing their total to five league championships. Having been a member of Ulsan’s first-ever title-winning squad as a player in 1996, he also became the first former Ulsan player to win the league as a manager.

Ulsan had high hopes with Kim at the helm for the 2025 K League 1 title and a strong showing at the FIFA Club World Cup, but the team fell into a slump, going winless in their last 10 official matches (3 draws and 3 losses in K League 1, 3 losses in the Club World Cup, and 1 loss in the Korea Cup). In light of the need to refresh the team’s atmosphere, both sides agreed to end their partnership.

Ulsan plans to appoint its 13th head coach as soon as possible in an effort to reinvigorate the struggling team. 

Additionally, Ulsan CEO Kim Kwang-kook, who has led the club since the 2015 season, has also expressed his intention to step down and will withdraw from club management.

via press release