2025 K League Promotion-Relegation Playoffs Confirmed

 

The 2025 Hana Bank K League Relegation Promotion Playoffs have been confirmed following the conclusion of the regular season on Sunday. Here are the details.

Playoff 1 

Will Bruno Silva and Suwon Bluewings be celebrating next Sunday?

Jeju SK (11th K League 1) vs. Suwon Samsung Bluewings (2nd K League 2).

It feels like an eternity since Incheon United wrapped up K League 2, thereby compounding Suwon to the lottery of a two leg playoff. The Bluewings have been waiting impatiently for their opponents to be revealed, and now we finally have the answer. Jeju SK will travel to Big Bird on Wednesday night before the teams meet on Sunday in Seogwipo. Interest in the first leg has been phenomenal, even though the temperatures will be freezing.

Jeju's form since mid July has been terrible, but they ended with a great win in Munsu. The reason they are not down automatically is because Daegu were worse. Of their last 15 league matches, the Islanders won just twice, away to Suwon FC. Suwon, meanwhile, wrapped up their regular season with a pair of 1-1s against Ansan Greeners and Gimpo FC either side of the international break. The performances will hardly inspire much confidence in their suffering fanbase, but no-one will care if the Bluewings can finally return to the top table.

Prediction: The destructive nature of falling behind in matches will be Suwon's downfall if they don't sort that out. But this Jeju team is there to be beaten, home and away.

Wednesday, December 3: Suwon Samsung Bluewings vs. Jeju SK. 19:00.

Sunday, December 7: Jeju SK vs. Suwon Samsung Bluewings. 14:00 or 16:30.

[READ: Stanislav Iljutcenko - "This club deserves to be in K League 1"]

Playoff 2

Can Suwon avoid the drop again?

Suwon FC (10th K League 1) vs. Bucheon FC 1995 (K League 2 playoff winner).

It is remarkable to think we had no idea who'd meet in this critical playoff until nearly 4 pm on Sunday. For Bucheon Seongnam of K League 2, their season is now over. After 39 rounds stretching from February to late November, it all ended in disappointment today. Ulsan, on the hand, can go on their holidays knowing top flight football has been secured for another season. 

Suwon's place in the relegation playoffs doesn't come as a great surprise. They simply don't have the players or depth to compete with some of the league's big hitters. In a 38 round season, Suwon were in the relegation for all but five. They went into the final round of the needing results to go their way, but it didn't happen. Bucheon survived a late scare against Seongnam FC to earn their place in the promotion playoffs. Needing a draw to advance, they held for a 0-0.

Prediction: Suwon FC to prolong their status as a K League 1 club.

Thursday, December 4: Bucheon FC 1995 Seongnam FC vs. Suwon FC. 19:00.

Sunday, December 7: Suwon FC vs. Bucheon FC 1995 Seongnam FC 14:00 or 16:30.

[READ: "Devastated" Seoul E-Land lick their playoff wounds]