We’ve reached the summer break, where the league goes on hiatus for six weeks while the World Cup plays out. We have had the first fifteen rounds of K League 1, with a number of surprise results and noteworthy performances. The league table is starting to take shape and clubs are looking up and looking down. Here’s how the land lies in K League 1 heading into the summer:

FC Seoul

Position	1st	32 points
Results	10 wins	2 draws	3 defeats
Goals	27 for	12 against
Top Scorer	Patryk Klimala	5 goals

It is hard to argue that Seoul’s start to the season could have been any better. Ten wins and two draws in the first fifteen games sees the capital city’s club sitting six points clear at the top of the league. After underwhelming in 2025, Seoul hit the ground running in 2026, winning 2-1 against Incheon on the opening day. A late home win against Jeonbuk and a thrashing of Ulsan on the road further underlined their intentions this year.

Grade: A

Ulsan HD

Position	2nd	26 points
Results	8 wins	2 draws	5 defeats
Goals	22 for	20 against
Top Scorer	Yago Cariello	6 goals

Ulsan have already lost five times this season, including two recent home hammerings at the hands of Seoul and Daejeon—both by a scoreline of 4-1. This isn’t the Ulsan of old, but they still have a habit of grinding out wins. The quality of Lee Dong-gyeong has carried the team through the opening few months, while the combined attacking experience of Marcao and Yago has helped the team pick up important wins. Despite this, they are conceding too many goals and will need to rectify this after the break if they are to have any hope of a title challenge.

Grade: B

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

Position	3rd	26 points
Results	7 wins	5 draws	3 defeats
Goals	21 for	12 against
Top Scorer	Tiago Orobó	4 goals

After a difficult start, Jeonbuk have managed to get their season back on track. Following a 3-2 defeat to Bucheon on the opening day, it took until Round 4 for the defending champions to pick up their first three points. Since then, they have recorded seven wins, losing only to Seoul and Incheon. The squad is still talent-laden, and the team is finally finding the form of last year. Sitting third behind Ulsan by virtue of scoring one goal fewer, the 2025 K League 1 champions are in a good position to force a title race leading into the end of the year.

Grade: B

Gangwon FC

Position	4th	24 points
Results	6 wins	6 draws	3 defeats
Goals	19 for	10 against
Top Scorer	Abdalla Halaihal	6 goals

Gangwon have shown a lot of consistency and ability over the last three years, despite consistently losing their top players. Kim Dae-won is the standout this year, as the team with the league’s youngest average age continues to defy the odds. Playing fast, attacking football and picking up a number of underdog victories in the opening months, Jung Kyung-ho’s men are well placed for another continental finish.

Grade: A

Pohang Steelers

Position	5th	22 points
Results	6 wins	4 draws	5 defeats
Goals	12 for	12 against
Top Scorer	Lee Ho-jae	7 goals

Pohang are generally there or thereabouts most years, but this year they have arguably failed to make the most of a run of eight home games on the bounce to start the season. However, despite being ten points off the pace at the top and struggling for goals, they’re proving resolute in defence and doing well to pick up points. Most teams in the top half are only separated by a handful of points, meaning that if the men in red and black can find a few more goals after the break, they will be among the favourites to cement an ACL position.

Grade: B

Incheon United

Position	6th	21 points
Results	6 wins	3 draws	6 defeats
Goals	21 for	17 against
Top Scorer	Stefan Mugosa	7 goals

Following promotion last season from K League 2, Incheon are working to consolidate themselves in K League 1. The season has been a mixed bag so far, with the team showing a tendency to concede too many goals. Seo Jae-min has been a revelation in midfield, following his move from Seoul E-Land, and Lee Chung-yong has added needed experience. Most expect a mid-table finish, which would be considered a success, but sneaking into that last continental place isn’t out of the question.

Grade: B

FC Anyang

Position	7th	20 points
Results	4 wins	8 draws	3 defeats
Goals	19 for	16 against
Top Scorer	Airton Moisés	5 goals

Anyang are having a steady second season in the top flight. Despite losing the goals of Bruno Mota—who took his 14 goals and moved to Jeonbuk in the winter—the Violets have proven difficult to beat. Drawing over half of their games highlights the issues of losing your top scorer, but they are in a good position to continue their consolidation.

Grade: B

Jeju SK

Position	8th	18 points
Results	5 wins	3 draws	7 defeats
Goals	13 for	16 against
Top Scorer	Negueba, Park CJ	2 goals

Jeju have been hard to read this season, and have been fairly inconsistent. The team started the season with a draw and three defeats, but the Islanders are slowly turning things around. Good wins at Daejeon and Pohang show they have the ability and squad, but goals are proving a problem, with the team having scored only thirteen in 15 games, with no player scoring more than two goals.

Grade: C

Bucheon FC 1995

Position	9th	17 points
Results	4 wins	5 draws	6 defeats
Goals	11 for	15 against
Top Scorer	Galego	4 goals

With one of the smallest budgets in the league, Bucheon were always in for a difficult season. Despite this, they’ve managed impressive away wins at Jeonbuk on the opening day and against local rivals Anyang. With Bassani missing a few games through injury, Bucheon have been relying on Galego for goals, and he hasn’t disappointed. Four goals at this stage sets him up nicely to reach double figures this year. If Bucheon can pick up a few more wins against the teams around them, they should be in for a comfortable finish.

Grade: B

Daejeon Hana Citizen

Position	10th	16 points
Results	4 wins	4 draws	7 defeats
Goals	17 for	16 against
Top Scorer	Jeong Jae-hee	4 goals

Daejeon are struggling to replicate the form that saw them finish second in K League 1 last year. The additions of Gustav Ludwigson and Eom Won-sang were expected to be the catalysts to push them to the title; however, results haven’t quite panned out. Despite this, good showings against Ulsan and Seoul have shown that there is still something there. Despite being 10th, they’re only 6 points off the final continental place. It would take a brave or foolish person to say that their season is done.

Grade: C

Gimcheon Sangmu

Position	11th	14 points
Results	2 wins	8 draws	5 defeats
Goals	15 for	21 against
Top Scorer	Go Jae-hyun	4 goal

With Gimcheon’s relegation confirmed before the season began, this year was always going to be a strange one for Korea’s army team. Sangmu drew their first five games, before losing to Incheon. With just one win, one draw and three defeats in their last five games before the break, one wonders if they’re just seeing the season out. Many eyes will be on their form after the break because if they can avoid last spot, it will force 2026’s bottom team into a relegation play-off with a K League 2 team.

Grade: C

Gwangju FC

Position	12th	7 points
Results	1 win	4 draws	10 defeats
Goals	7 for	37 against
Top Scorer	Sin Chang-Moo	3 goals

Gwangju have conceded 37 goals in 15 games and are sitting rock bottom of K League 1, seven points adrift of Gimcheon directly above them. Gwangju’s solitary win came over Incheon United in Round 2, but since then it has been downhill. Gwangju have conceded four or more goals in a game on six occasions in their 15 games this year. It’s looking bleak for the team from South Jeolla. The only good news is that their transfer registration ban will be lifted in the summer, meaning they can sign much needed reinforcements. Also, as noted elsewhere, Gwangju finishing bottom won’t automatically relegate them this season, either.

Grade: D

K League 1 resumes on the weekend of 4th-5th July. Below the 38th will feature a full preview of those games in the week running up to them.