2025 Season Review: Jeju SK

The 2025 Hana Bank K League 1 season was one to forget for Jeju SK, managing to escape relegation via the playoffs following a 3-0 aggregate win over Suwon Samsung Bluewings. It was one that ended with a caretaker manager in charge, and needed the heroics of a late-season returnee from military service, Kim Seung-seop, to score some incredibly important goals to dig the tangerines out of the mire.

What Went Well

Jeju SK were able to survive relegation, despite the club not acting quickly enough to change manager. The warning signs were there last year, but the club stuck with Kim Hak-bum, and it very nearly proved costly. The fact that the Islanders didn't go down is some sort of miracle. Their best run of the season was three straight wins from Round 16 to 18, with the playoffs only the second time they were able to win back-to-back games or more. Jeju had a knack for picking up points when they really needed to, showing that when things got a bit sticky, the Tangerines were able to peel away from the bottom. Kim Seung-seop's timely return from Gimcheon Sangmu was a real rub of the green for them, too, scoring the winner away to Ulsan on the final day to avoid automatic relegation, then scoring the opener in the second leg of the playoffs against Suwon Bluewings. Jeju's performances across both legs of the playoffs also played into their knack for getting results when needed, with the 1-0 first leg win setting them up nicely.

What Didn't Go Well

Jeju suffered the most losses in K League 1 in 2025 with 19, one more than automatically relegated Daegu FC. They won the second-fewest number of games behind Daegu with 10 and managed just 40 goals at the other end - the joint-lowest total in Final B and joint second-lowest overall. In short, Jeju didn't win enough games and didn't score enough goals. Their away form was particularly disappointing, four wins away from Seogwipo all year with 11 losses painting its own picture. But six wins at home from 18 is nothing to be proud of either. Kim Hak-bum said before his departure that the quality of foreign players in K League has dropped, but in reality, it was more a case of Jeju recruiting well. Even the signing of a player Kim has worked with before, Tiago Alves, couldn't inspire the team.

Young Player of the Year

Kim Jun-ha, right winger

Jeju SK didn't field too many U22 players in 2025, with 20-year-olds Kim Jun-ha and Choi Beong-wook the two who featured the most. Kim Jun-ha looked exciting in spells for the Islanders, and was able to register three goals as the only U22 player to score for Jeju in 2025, and one assist. He got off to the perfect start with a goal on the opening day of the season in a 2-0 win over FC Seoul, on what was his professional debut, then added his second in Round 6, the match winner at home to Suwon FC, then his third and final strike of the campaign came in a 2-0 win at home to Pohang.

Team MVP

Nam Tae-hee, attacking midfielder

A player of immense quality and with vast experience, Jeju fans may dread to think of how they'd have fared this season without Nam Tae-hee. The 34-year-old ranked top for Jeju for key passes with 47, second for goals with six, and second for assists with four in 39 appearances out of 40, including the playoffs. A very, very late equaliser away to Daejeon in Round 21 and another at home to Jeonbuk in Round 32 earned valuable points, as did a brace of assists away to FC Seoul in Round 17 to make it 2-0 in a 3-1 win, and an assist for Yu In-soo to open the scoring in a 1-1 draw away to Jeonbuk can be seen as moments that helped get Jeju over the line and avoid automatic relegation.

Most Disappointing Player

Jang Min-kyu, centre back

More would have been expected from Jang Min-kyu, a signing that was part of a theme of Kim Hak-bum signing players he'd worked with while coaching the Korea U23 side. It's not that Jang had a bad season, nor did he put in dodgy performances after the other, but he was not able to cement his place in the team. Jeju's two centre backs, being the aging duo of Lim Chai-min and Song Ju-hun, with the former signing for K League 2 newcomers Yongin, is an indictment of how Jang, along with many others, were unable to grab their chances. Generally speaking, Jeju's recruitment was poor and

Most Important Decision of the Off-Season

Jeju have the chance to exact a complete reset. Sergio Costa is in as manager, an exciting appointment that will capture the imagination of the fans. The club now need to form a playing squad that won't underachieve, with Jeju having the fifth-highest wage bill in 2025. Jeju have a clean slate and a chance to instill a new identity and philosophy. But what will that be?