The K League 1 Wrap-Up: Daegu FC Are Relegated to K League 2

After a dramatic end to the 2025 K League 1 season, columnist Nathan Sartain recaps all of the talking points from Round 38.

Daegu FC Are Relegated

It’s a testament to just how good Daegu FC’s resurgence in form was towards the end of 2025 that we are only talking about their relegation in Round 38. In fact, their complete reversal of fortunes actually saw the Sky Blues lose just one of their last 12 games, making today’s drop to K League 2 sting all the more. And, while you can also make the point that Daegu simply drew too many games (they won just twice in their eight-match unbeaten run to end the season), the team’s resilience deserves plenty of credit.

That durability was on display again today too, as Daegu came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with FC Anyang. Initially, though, the Violets hot start was too much to handle, and after less than two minutes Matheus Oliveira nipped in to chip Han Tae-hui in an opener born out of a high turnover in possession. A set-piece rebound would then suddenly make it 2-0 within five minutes, piling the pressure on the hosts.

Yet Geovani put Daegu back in the game in the 60th-minute by catching Kim Da-sol out at his near post, before star man Cesinha scored the equaliser in the 94th-minute with a close-range header. There was also a disallowed goal for handball in the closing seconds, but regardless it would not have been enough to keep the Sky Blues safe, who now have to compete in K League 2 for the first time since 2016.

[READ: 2025 K League Promotion-Relegation Playoffs Confirmed.]

Jeju SK Gain Potentially Vital Momentum

It has been a season of struggle for Jeju SK, who have largely been warding off the threat of automatic relegation for their stint in Final B. However, today’s 1-0 away triumph over last year’s champions Ulsan HD shows the fight this team still has.

Perhaps surprisingly, the Tangerines actually dominated the early phases of the game, controlling possession, but just failing to find that clinical edge in the final third. In the second-half Jeju were then well-placed to deal with Ulsan’s greater attacking threat, before snatching a winner for themselves in the 90th-minute via Kim Seung-sub’s emphatic finish. Now, the task is for Jeju to keep that momentum going against Suwon Samsung Bluewings, who themselves will be desperate to return to the top-flight following a two-year absence.

Suwon FC Fail to Capitalise

Given the fact Ulsan HD fell to that aforementioned defeat to Jeju SK, all Suwon FC had to do was win at home against Gwangju FC to gain automatic survival. But their fate was arguably already sealed before the Tangerines’ winner, after Reis’ 50th-minute composed finish gave the Griffins an important lead, one they were not going to surrender easily based on recent history. Even Willyan's late disallowed strike would have still condemned Suwon to 10th-place, a spot they have occupied throughout the final rounds of the season.

As a result, Suwon will now face Bucheon FC in their promotion/relegation playoff, whereas Gwangju head into their upcoming Korea Cup final against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors having won four of their last five matches.

The Final A Talking Points

Moving onto the late afternoon kick-offs, there was little to play for in Final A, with most teams vying for proverbial bragging rights.

With that in mind, it was Daejeon Hana Citizen who had the best weekend, their 3-0 away thrashing of Gimcheon Sangmu securing a second-place finish. With three wins in their last five games, it’s hard to argue that the Purples don’t deserve this, especially when they had started the season so well in the first place. At their best Daejeon are a fast-paced attacking side, able to press well and play some exciting football when it matters. Given that the club has seen significant investment in the playing squad too, you’d back the Purples to continue their upwards trajectory, and make a splash in the AFC Champions League Elite next year.

Elsewhere, title winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors dug deep to secure a 2-1 win against FC Seoul. The visitors mustered 25 attempts here, throwing everything they had to try and secure a fifth-place spot (which could result in ACL2 qualification depending on the Korea Cup Final result), but a 93rd-minute Jeon Jin-woo penalty, and Song Bum-keun’s outstanding goalkeeping performance, ended up being the difference maker, keeping Gus Poyet’s side on a four-match unbeaten run (two wins, two draws) heading into next week’s cup final.

Finally, Gangwon FC edged out a competitive contest with Pohang Steelers 1-0, with Mo Jae-hyun’s excellent finish enough to separate the sides. Most notably, Lee Ho-jae missed a penalty he had earned for himself, though on the balance of play the better chances did seem to go to the home team. Either way, Pohang had already guaranteed themselves fourth-place heading into Round 38, whilst Gangwon leapfrogged FC Seoul on the final day, and thus will qualify for ACL2 should Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors win next week’s Korea Cup Final.

That’s all for this season! Thank you to anyone and everyone who has followed this column.