While new management brought hopes of an improvement in performance after the disappointments of 2024, an attempt at the title was slightly beyond expectations. However, under the helm of Gus Poyet, the Green Warriors rediscovered the attacking verve that once made them so feared, heading on a 26 match unbeaten run across all competitions and winning the title by Round 33, one round before the commencement of Finals A and B. It was an impressive showing from the side, only bettered by continued success in the Korea Cup to double the trophy haul. Gus Poyet was awarded the K League 1 Manager of the Season for his leadership while no fewer than six Jeonbuk players featured in the division's best eleven, only to further underline their achievements.

2. Daejeon Hana Citizen

Similar to the eventual Champions, Daejeon Hana Citizen had also endured a 2024 below expectations but the reappointment of the experienced Hwang Sun-hong last summer turned things around and saw the team carry their upward momentum into 2025. Shrewd recruitment in the likes striker Joo Min-kyu from Ulsan HD plus eventual best eleven left back Lee Myung-jae from Birmingham City, bolstered an already talented squad and ultimately helped steer the Purples into their first foray in the AFC Asian Champions League Elite next season.

3. Gimcheon Sangmu

After a season to remember in 2024, finishing third, few thought manager Chung Jung-yong would be able to repeat the same feat given the cycling nature of recruits entering and exiting the team to complete their national service. Yet the military squad proved to be valiant opposition once more, holding onto second spot into November yet eventually ceding their grip once many completed their tenure at the end of October. One of those was eventual MVP Lee Dong-gyeong, whose extraordinary efforts saw him lead Gimcheon up the table, before heading back down the division to help his parent club Ulsan HD avoid relegation in the final week's of the season.

A steady improvement for the Steelers as they looked to build on their sixth place finish under manager Park Tae-ha's first season. In 2024, injuries towards the end of the campaign saw their squad stretched thin at times, but with Lee Ho-jae back to full fitness this year, plus the ever-reliant Oberdan dictating the play in midfield, the East Coast side proved difficult opposition. Interestingly, they only picked up three additional points from their previous campaign, but it was enough to keep them in contention for continental football once more next season.

Given the extraordinary efforts in 2024, seeing them turn out as unlikely title contenders and ultimately finishing second, this campaign was always going to be difficult for Gangwon FC to replicate, especially with their manager Yoon Jong-hwan moving on as well as starlet Yang Min-hyeok to Tottenham Hotspur. Yoon's assistant Chung Kyung-ho was given the reins in his first full-time head coach position in a bid to maintain consistency and, with that, Gangwon managed to perform well once more. While they may not have reached the giddy heights of last season, strong showings on the continent in their first foray into Champions League football plus the continued success of their youth system with Lee Seung-won claiming the 2025 Young Player of the Year offer shoots of optimism as the citizen-owned club look to challenge once more next season.

After the promise of a fourth placed finish in 2024, expectations of FC Seoul were high given that Kim Gi-dong had spent a year settling into the role and with Jessie Lingard handed the captaincy. However, while the capital club were able create, they found it difficult to convert at times, scoring fewer goals and drawing more often. Combined with additional continental commitments, Seoul were unable to build on their potential and, with Lingard now leaving them for pastures new, the club has plenty of questions facing them for the season ahead.

Winning four of their last five games and reaching the Korea Cup Final, Gwangju FC were top of the bottom-half sides in 2025. And, although the Griffins only won one more game than the season prior, they lost five fewer matches, and had the joint-second strongest defence in the division (41 goals conceded). Unsurprisingly, then, goalkeeper Kim Kyung-min, as well as defenders Byeon Jun-soo and Cho Sung-gwon, were nominated for the K League 1 Best XI.

It was a very positive debut season in K League 1 for FC Anyang. With 49 goals scored, the Violets were the only Final B side to finish with a positive goal difference, partially thanks to star players Bruno Mota and Matheus Oliveira scoring 14 and 10 times respectively. Recognised for their successful campaign, Bruno Mota, Thomas Oude Kotte, and captain Lee Chang-yong were all nominated for the K League 1 Best XI, manager Ryu Byung-hoon was shortlisted for Manager of the Season, and Chae Hyun-woo was one of three contenders for Young Player of the Season.

2024 K League 1 champions Ulsan HD had a difficult year. Managers Kim Pan-gon and Shin Tae-yong both departed during the season, and the Horangi only finished two points clear of a Promotion-Relegation Playoff spot. In fact, Ulsan’s ninth-place finish is their lowest since 2000, and their 16 defeats are double their loss total of both 2023 and 2024.

Whilst they possessed top goalscorer Pablo Sabbag (17 goals) in their ranks, Suwon FC were unable to avoid relegation, falling to a 4-2 aggregate defeat to Bucheon FC 1995 in Promotion-Relegation Playoff 2. This was the second time in three seasons that Suwon had to compete in a playoff for survival, despite finishing fifth last year, and now Kim Eun-jung’s men will play in the second division for the first time since 2020.

In a season of struggle, Jeju SK found some form towards the end of the campaign, and ultimately maintained their top-flight status through a 3-0 aggregate win against Suwon Samsung Bluewings in Promotion-Relegation Playoff 1. With that being said, their 19 defeats were the most of any side this season. 

For the first time since 2016, Daegu FC will play in K League 2, having finished bottom of the division with 34 points. The Sky Blues managed just two clean sheets all season, and conceded 67 times, but did rally towards the end of the year by finishing their campaign eight games unbeaten (two wins, six draws). Owing to his 24 goal contributions (12 goals, 12 assists), club legend Cesinha was nominated for the K League 1 Best XI.