Who were K League's biggest earners and spenders in 2025?
Salary figures are calculated based on actual payments made, combining base salary and various bonuses (including appearance fees, win bonuses, goal and assist bonuses, and other options). Bonuses include payments made for matches in the 2025 K League season, the Korea Cup, and the AFC Champions League.
The total salary expenditure of the 11 K League 1 clubs in the 2025 season amounted to KRW 136.813066 billion. By club, Ulsan recorded the highest spending at KRW 20.648584 billion, followed by Jeonbuk at KRW 20.141419 billion and Daejeon at KRW 19.931388 billion.
The average salary per player in K League 1 was KRW 311.765 million. The average salary for domestic players was KRW 237.818 million, while foreign players earned an average of KRW 835.985 million.
By club, the highest average salary per player was at Ulsan with KRW 643.592 million, followed by Daejeon with KRW 509.972 million and FC Seoul with KRW 410.775 million.
Meanwhile, the total salary expenditure of the 14 K League 2 clubs in the 2025 season stood at KRW 72.965667 billion. Incheon spent the most at KRW 10.760123 billion, followed by Suwon with KRW 9.568525 billion and Chungnam Asan with KRW 6.658744 billion.
The average salary per player in K League 2 was KRW 142.534 million. Domestic players earned an average of KRW 106.475 million, while foreign players earned an average of KRW 412.853 million.
By club, the highest average salary per player was at Incheon with KRW 293.458 million, followed by Suwon with KRW 265.179 million and Seoul E-Land with KRW 193.548 million.
Across both K League 1 and 2 in the 2025 season, the top five highest-paid domestic players were Lee Seung-woo (Jeonbuk, KRW 1.59 billion), Kim Young-gwon (Ulsan, KRW 1.48 billion), Jo Hyeon-woo (Ulsan, KRW 1.46 billion), Park Jin-seop (Jeonbuk, KRW 1.23 billion), and Joo Min-kyu (Daejeon, KRW 1.12 billion).
Among foreign players, the top five highest-paid were Cesinha (Daegu, KRW 2.1 billion), Jesse Lingard (FC Seoul, KRW 1.95 billion), Gerso Fernandes (Incheon, KRW 1.54 billion), Stefan Mugoša (Incheon, KRW 1.54 billion), and Andrea Compagno (Jeonbuk, KRW 1.34 billion).
via K League press release
Analysis
Two of the top earners were in K League 2 with Gerso Fernandes and Stefan Mugosa of Incheon United featuring in the top five. Jesse Lingard was knocked off top spot by Cesinha, who broke the two billion won threshold. Unsurprisingly, three Jeonbuk players make the combined top 10 with Lee Seung-woo the highest-earning domestic player. Daejeon's Joo Min-kyu ranked fifth among the domestic players, proving money well spent after helping to fire the club to AFC Champions League Elite qualification.
Cesinha, Daegu FC (2.1 billion)
Jesse Lingard, FC Seoul (1.95 billion)
Lee Seung-woo, Jeonbuk (1.59 billion)
Jesse Lingard, FC Seoul (1.95 billion)
Lee Seung-woo, Jeonbuk (1.59 billion)
Gerso Fernandes, Incheon United (1.54 billion)
Stefan Mugosa, Incheon United (1.54 billion)
Kim Young-gwon, Ulsan HD (1.48 billion)
Jo Hyeon-woo, Ulsan HD (1.46 billion)
Andrea Compagno, Jeonbuk (1.34 billion)
Park Jin-seop, Jeonbuk (1.23 billion)
Kim Young-gwon, Ulsan HD (1.48 billion)
Jo Hyeon-woo, Ulsan HD (1.46 billion)
Andrea Compagno, Jeonbuk (1.34 billion)
Park Jin-seop, Jeonbuk (1.23 billion)
Joo Min-kyu, Daejeon (1.12 billion)
(1 billion KRW = 693,438 USD)
FC Anyang stayed up, despite having the lowest wage bill in K League 1. Jeju SK, meanwhile, finished second-bottom despite having the fifth-highest wage bill. Daegu had the second-highest wage bill among the citizen/provincial clubs but finished bottom. Ulsan's squad overall proved to be expensive and was unable to pay dividends, with the Horangi having finished ninth, despite having the most expensively assembled squad. On the other hand, Daejeon's aggressive investment in their playing squad paid off while Suwon FC's second-lowest wage bill, ultimately, led to their relegation.
K League 1 Table Ranked by Wage Bill
Ulsan HD - 20.648
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors - 20.141
Daejeon Hana Citizen - 19.931
FC Seoul - 15.301
Jeju SK - 11.333
Pohang Steelers - 9.591
Gangwon FC - 9.258
Daegu FC - 8.963
Gwangju FC - 7.375
Suwon FC - 7.173
Anyang - 7.093
Daejeon Hana Citizen - 19.931
FC Seoul - 15.301
Jeju SK - 11.333
Pohang Steelers - 9.591
Gangwon FC - 9.258
Daegu FC - 8.963
Gwangju FC - 7.375
Suwon FC - 7.173
Anyang - 7.093
Unit = billion Korean won (1 billion KRW = 693,438 USD)
Two citizen clubs in Incheon United and Chungnam Asan make the three top spenders in K League 2. Seoul E-Land's fourth-place was matched by their fourth-highest wage bill, while Bucheon FC 1995, despite having the fifth-lowest wage bill in the division, finished fourth and won promotion. Several citizen clubs outspent historic K League giants Busan IPark, but the bottom six in terms of total wage bills are citizen clubs.
K League 2 Table Ranked by Wage Bill
Incheon United - 10.760
Suwon Bluewings - 9.568
Chungnam Asan - 6.658
Seoul E-Land - 6.241
Jeonnam Dragons - 6.152
Seongnam FC 4.914
Gimpo FC - 4.650
Busan IPark - 4.553
Gyeongnam FC - 4.496
Bucheon FC 1995 - 3.751
Cheonan City - 3.659
Chungbuk Cheongju - 2.945
Hwaseong FC - 2.707
Ansan Greeers - 1.906
Suwon Bluewings - 9.568
Chungnam Asan - 6.658
Seoul E-Land - 6.241
Jeonnam Dragons - 6.152
Seongnam FC 4.914
Gimpo FC - 4.650
Busan IPark - 4.553
Gyeongnam FC - 4.496
Bucheon FC 1995 - 3.751
Cheonan City - 3.659
Chungbuk Cheongju - 2.945
Hwaseong FC - 2.707
Ansan Greeers - 1.906
Unit = billion Korean won (1 billion KRW = 693,438 USD)
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