The Highs and Lows of Gangwon FC in 2025

It’s fair to say that Gangwon FC’s 2025 has been inconsistent. Yes, there have been some major positive results, but there have also been preventable setbacks, all of which has led the Bears to be on the fringes of both a Final A push, and relegation scrap. With that in mind, columnist Nathan Sartain takes an in-depth look at the season so far for Jung Kyung-ho’s men.

Pre-Season Recruitment

Looking to build on the success 2024 brought, and provide new manager Jung Kyung-ho with sufficient squad depth for Gangwon's first foray into the AFC Champions League Elite, the Bears were lively in the winter transfer window.

Business began all the way in mid-December, in fact, when full-back/central midfielder Lee You-hyeon’s loan was made permanent. It was a statement of strong intent from the get-go, and sign that the club had ambitions of proving their second-place finish wasn’t a fluke. However, with Yang Min-hyuk and Hwang Mun-ki on the departures list, in addition to esteemed manager Yoon Jong-hwan, Gangwon could have fallen into the trap of rushing into a statement signing.

Instead, the Bears stayed strategic. After a slew of rookies joined the ranks - namely Lee Ji-ho, who has gone on to impress this year as the team's second top goalscorer - as well as some other young prospects such as winger Kim Do-hyun and centre-back Park Soo-hwan, Gangwon would start to plug gaps in their first-team. At first, Kang Yun-gu was brought in from Ulsan HD, and while he hasn’t made an appearance yet due to injury, his profile fit the mould for the type of creative outlet needed by Jung Kyung-ho in midfield. Then came centre-back Park Ho-young, who occasionally finds himself used as a target-man striker off the bench, followed by the experienced full-back Hong Chul, a player able to deputise in a number of areas on the flanks.

Continuing their streak of looking to K League 2 for inspiration, Choe Byung-chan arrived, someone initially brought in to play a similar role as the departed Yu In-soo on the wing, but found some form as a striker in the early parts of 2025. With the aim of recreating Hwang Mun-ki’s creativity, Kang Joon-hyuck was signed too, his three goals and six assists across 2024 a clear signal this was meant to be a like-for-like addition. Keeping up market momentum, midfielder Choi Han-sol and winger Kim Min-jun were soon snapped up, with the former providing cover in defence when necessary until being loaned out to Jeonnam Dragons, while the latter was someone seen as a player with untapped potential that could be fulfilled with a more prominent role (something that hasn’t quite materialised yet).

Add to the mix additions such as Mario Cuze, Yun Il-lok, and the loan acquisition of Koo Bon-cheol, and to put it mildly Gangwon were busy crafting a bolder, larger roster. Every area of the pitch now had depth, fresh faces were brought in with the expectation of impacting the first-team, and following the departure of a number of veterans such as Kim Young-bin and Yun Seok-young, some newer seasoned professionals found their way to the Bears.

[READ: Who is Park Seung-soo, Newcastle United's latest signing?.]

A Bumpy Start

As the 2025 season began, Gangwon adopted a new tactical identity to fit their new-look side. Gone was the free-flowing, direct attacking football seen under Yoon Jong-hwan, and in its place came a focus on defensive solidity, as well as a more possession-based approach to buildup play.

Unsurprisingly, this newer style then had some teething issues, as is the norm when so much changes in one winter. In round one, for example, the Bears may have looked largely comfortable on the ball, patiently progressing up the pitch, but they were dominated in an attacking sense by Daegu, who fully deserved their comeback 2-1 victory. And, although next week a Lee Ji-ho brace quickly returned Gangwon to winning ways at the expense of Pohang Steelers, the team looked at its best when playing long balls up the pitch to create chaos, not when prioritising confidence in possession.

This type of mixed form would persist, too. In round three, a blunt Gangwon outing led to a 0-0 home draw with Jeju SK, before round four saw the benefits of a rigid defensive structure as a Kim Kyung-min breakaway goal gave the Bears a dramatic 1-0 away win against current league leaders Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (the Green Warriors’ last defeat so far in 2025). However, the lack of high-quality chance creation would quickly harm the team’s consistency, as they slumped to three consecutive defeats without scoring against FC Seoul, Gimcheon Sangmu and FC Anyang respectively. The latter loss, a 2-0 drubbing away to the Violets, was a particular cause for concern, given Gangwon managed just three shots on target, created an xG total of 0.66, and took most of their attempts on goal once behind in a frantic search for an equaliser that only made the defence vulnerable to quick transitions.

Positive Signs Emerge, But Inconsistencies Remain

Picking up on the room for worry, manager Jung Kyung-ho realised something had to change, and seemed to acknowledge the need for greater proactivity in a 1-0 home triumph over Gwangju FC. There, Gangwon created an improved xG tally of 1.75 from 12 shots, created some clearer-cut opportunities, and still retained their defensive structure in limiting the Griffins to five shots. This felt like a blueprint to work from going forward, and it was a feeling backed up when a similar tactical setup saw the Bears stride to a 2-1 away victory against Ulsan HD, their first at Munsu since 2012.

Sure, a red-card and rather tepid 1-0 loss to Daejeon Hana Citizen, as well as a blunt 0-0 home draw with Suwon FC would stick a small pin in any growing excitement for the time being, but a midweek 3-0 thrashing of Jeju SK in round 12 brought the enthusiasm all back. Playing with relentless efficiency in a counter-pressing system, the likes of Lee Ji-ho and Lee Gi-hyuk shone here, varying passing options, pressing effectively, and tangibly contributing to an overall confidence-building performance.

However, the above did not lead to a sustained improvement in self-belief, and Gangwon’s follow-up to perhaps their best performance of the year so far was a 4-0 home defeat to Gimcheon Sangmu. The cliché of being played off the park applies here, as a one-sided contest gave the military side a deserved three points, while highlighting the Bears’ stop-start opening to 2025. Home form in particular was a concern now, with subsequent defeats to FC Anyang and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors meaning Gangwon conceded 11 goals across the Bears’ final five Chuncheon outings, and were in urgent need of a larger rethink.

A Summer of Change

As such, Gangwon would prepare to use the summer as a chance to take stock, refresh the ranks in the transfer market, and allow for Jung Kyung-ho to tweak his tactical outlook. After all, there were a number of questions left to answer about how the team had faired so far in 2025. For example, the focus on defensive structure initially was admirable, but what is the plan B when teams breach those lines regularly? More patience in possession can allow the team to draw the opposition out and smartly fashion opportunities, but what happens when attacking players just aren’t creating enough, or finishing clinically? Finally, when you’re trying to follow a record-breaking season, when do you decide it may be time to take some inspiration from the fast-paced football that was on display not too long ago?

In the immediacy, two attacking acquisitions were made. First, striker Kim Gun-hee came in, an experienced forward who had previously worked with Jung Kyung-ho at Gimcheon Sangmu, where he had his best goal scoring year. Winger Mo Jae-hyun arrived too, joining from Gyeongnam FC to build on his own successful loan spell with the military side, and revitalise the Bears' right wing. Perhaps most importantly, though, key players Kim Dae-won and Seo Min-woo returned from Gimcheon, ready to slot right back into the starting eleven.

Straight away, the impact of these incomings was felt. Benefiting from a higher-pressing tactical base, something that had already earned a respectable 1-1 away draw with FC Seoul, Gangwon returned to winning ways in Gangneung, brushing aside Daegu 3-0. There, Kim Gun-hee and Mo Jae-hyun both found the net, while Kim Dae-won bagged himself an assist in an all-round reinvigorated display. Speaking of Kim Dae-won, a week later he would grab all the headlines for Gangwon in an end-to-end 2-1 victory against Suwon FC, where the winger scored a stunning winner prior to being sent off for removing his shirt in celebration.

Furthermore, some solid home comforts are being reinstated in Gangneung. Against Daejeon Hana Citizen, stoppage time goals from Mo Jae-hyun and Kim Gun-hee rescued a point for Gangwon in round 22, while just a couple of weeks ago a Hong Chul free-kick in the 97th-minute secured the Bears a 2-2 draw against reigning champions Ulsan HD. Sure, wins will be required in the coming weeks, but there’s no negative to staying competitive, nor showcasing the squad’s resilience. In fairness, the mentality of this Gangwon team shouldn’t be questioned in the first place, as in 2025 they have gained 11 of their 30 points from goals scored past 90 minutes.

So, What Next?

Heading into the final weeks of the regular season, Gangwon are now one of a fair few clubs caught in between two separate potential ambitions. Being just two points away from a Final A spot, Jung Kyung-ho will know that building some momentum could land his team in the top-half, marking a successful transition year. With that being said, the Bears sit just two points above a promotion/relegation playoff spot too, and given how some recent campaigns have gone, will know that any complacency or further inconsistent patches could lead them into aiming for survival above all.

However, there is reason to be optimistic now, or at the very least hope that thanks to the genuine injection of quality in the team, some of the rough edges on display earlier this year can be smoothened. Add to that a manager who is genuinely adapting to his surroundings as time passes, in addition to fans who feel ready to rally around the cause, and maybe Gangwon can land closer to Final A than what would be a third scrap for safety in five years.