News: Suwon Samsung Bluewings appoint Lee Jung-hyo as new manager

Suwon Samsung Bluewings have announced that Lee Jung-hyo has been appointed as the club’s 11th head coach.

Suwon Samsung believe that Lee, who possesses a clear footballing philosophy, outstanding coaching ability, and a strong track record in player development, is the ideal figure to lead the club’s resurgence. With sincerity and respect at the core of their approach, the club made every effort to secure his appointment.

Despite receiving strong interest from overseas clubs as well as multiple K League teams in recent times, Lee Jung-hyo was deeply impressed by the sincerity, urgency, and—above all—the profound respect shown by Suwon Samsung toward him as a coach. Moved by the club’s genuine intent, he decided to accept the role as Suwon’s new head coach.

Lee Jung-hyo is a coach who has consistently proven his capabilities in the K League.

In 2018 with Seongnam FC and in 2020 with Jeju United, he served as assistant head coach and helped guide both clubs to promotion to K League 1. In 2022, he took over as head coach of Gwangju FC while the club were in K League 2, leading them to the championship with a record-high 86 points and securing automatic promotion to K League 1.

He went on to demonstrate strong competitiveness in K League 1, guiding Gwangju FC to their first-ever qualification for the AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE), a historic quarter-final appearance as the first-ever citizen club to do so (2024–25), and a runners-up finish in the 2025 Hana Bank Korea Cup. These milestones established him as one of the most highly regarded coaches in the league.

Following Lee Jung-hyo’s appointment, the club has immediately begun preparations for the 2026 season. Suwon Samsung will spare no effort in all areas—including squad building and strengthening—to achieve their shared goal of promotion to K League 1.

The appointment comes after the club parted ways with Byun Sung-hwan, who offered to resign following the Bluewings' Promotion-Relegation Playoff loss to Jeju SK.

Via Suwon Bluewings press release