After a busy international break, the 2025 Hana Bank K League season returns with Round 29. Headlined by an East Coast Derby, there's a chance for teams up and down the table to cement their goals for the final few weeks of pre-split action, and for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, an opportunity to push to wrap up a league title win.
Ahead of the final East Coast Derby of the regular season, Pohang Steelers and Ulsan HD have differing short-term ambitions. For the hosts, despite a 1-0 defeat to Gangwon FC last time out, where they were limited to an xG total of 0.51, a top-four finish is still firmly on the cards. Ulsan, meanwhile, are looking to at least salvage a Final A finish for their season, and after three consecutive defeats, need to start turning their form around sooner rather than later to achieve it.
While the last clash between these sides finished 1-1, the first meeting of the year went in Pohang’s favour thanks to a 79th-minute Lee Ho-jae winner.
Team of the Round
Daegu FC (vs. Gimcheon Sangmu)
After securing their first win since May, Daegu FC will now attempt a dramatic climb towards top-flight safety. In a 3-1 victory against Suwon FC, the Sky Blues were impressive, creating an xG total of 2.74 from 13 shots, fashioning six big chances, taking 26 touches in the opposition box, and making six accurate crosses. This week, Daegu face Gimcheon Sangmu, who were defeated 2-1 by Daejeon Hana Citizen before the international break.
Player of the Round
Kim Tae-hyun, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (vs. Daejeon Hana Citizen
A consistently strong performer for league leaders Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, defender Kim Tae-hyun again stood out in the Green Warriors’ 2-0 away victory over Ulsan HD. There, the 28-year-old made five passes to the final third, three tackles, six clearances, two recoveries, and won four of his seven ground duels in an all-round solid performance complemented by an assist. In Round 29, Jeonbuk host Daejeon Hana Citizen, who they have beaten already this year away from home, but could only manage a 1-1 draw against in Round 12’s meeting in Jeonju.
Elsewhere in K League 1 Round 29
Hoping to build on back-to-back victories, Gangwon FC host an FC Seoul side in mixed form, having won two and lost two of their last five games. Speaking of Seoul, FC Anyang are looking to use a derby win against their rivals as a catalyst for bigger things when they face off with Jeju SK, who themselves sit in 11th-place after a run of five winless matches. Finally, Suwon FC will aim to bounce back from defeat to Daegu FC against Gwangju FC, a club looking to maintain its top-half standing.
K League 1 Round 29 Fixtures
Saturday 13th September
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (1st) vs. Daejeon Hana Citizen (3rd) [ENG]
Pohang Steelers (4th) vs. Ulsan HD (8th) [ENG]
Gangwon FC (7th) vs. FC Seoul (5th)
Sunday 14th September
FC Anyang (9th) vs. Jeju SK (11th) [ENG]
Gimcheon Sangmu (2nd) vs. Daegu FC (12th)
Suwon FC (10th) vs. Gwangju FC (6th) [ENG]
*All games kick off at 19:00 KST*
Watch all matches live on
TV.KLeague.com. English commentary provided where indicated.
