Soccer playoff preview
Intro: Annyeong Haseyo everyone! Welcome to Season 4 of the Hwa-Ting Sports podcast, the one and only English sports podcast out there!! I am your host Mr. S. We’re talking about the wide world of Korean Sports in an often comedic matter at least twice a month, with the occasional special episode sprinkled in like gochu powder. Try not to sneeze *joke sting*. And with that, say it with me, hana-deul-set HWAI-TING!
Go over the relegation rules for football
It’s that time of year where K1 gets split in half with the teams 7 thru 12 play to avoid getting relegated to K2. After this round of 5 matches the tables will be set and the 12th ranked team gets automatically sent down, and the 10th and 11th ranked teams play K league 2 teams. So there’s a lot of action in the league right now until December. If you also want me to cover the cup final between Jeonbuk and Gwangju FC, let me know on the Facebook page or the comments of your podcast site and I’ll make it happen, though if it’s the same weekend as the Korean Super Bowl I’ll have to pass.
Go over the playoff teams for K1 and our unscientific picks
So who are the top 6 in the K League this season? If you haven’t been paying attention, you’ll be as surprised as I was to see Jeonbuk raise the trophy once again. They nearly got relegated last season, but this time they’ve wrecked the league with 71 total points! Talk about a turnaround for the ages! They’ve been aided by their former ball boy turned midfielder, which screams ESPN documentary to me. Since they won, they’ve got the automatic bid for the AFC League elite league stage, which is a great time saver. So the rest of the season is about who gets into the AFC League elite group stages. Gimcheon is in 2nd place but because they’re in the military they can’t participate *disappointed sound*. Yeah, I know. They would be a sight to see on the world stage. They certainly would have been more interesting to see in the Club world cup than watching Ulsan get smushed. Make them boys do 100 push ups as a reward *joke sting*. That means Daejeon and Pohang have more to play for along with FC Seoul and Gangwon. If the standards remain unchanged, Daejeon would get the elite group stage and Pohang would get the League 2 group stage bid. With only 4 points separating them from Pohang, Daejeon needs to keep winning. Pohang has FC Seoul on its heels with 6 points separating them and Gangwon needs a lot of luck to get into any form of playoff spot. Gangwon’s situation is resolved and they’ll be playing in Gangneung next year. Hopefully the field will be fine, but I’m not going to any of those AFC Elite games, not in winter Brrrrr.
So who are we picking to win here at Hwa-ting Sports? I’m picking Jeonbuk! Oh wait they already won. oops *joke sting** Fine fine, I’ll pick for the AFC slots. Elite group is going to Pohang and League 2 is going to Daejeon. I’m not sold on either other team to catch the top 3 and with Gimcheon still playing well, they’re not going to get help from that team either. Think; if you’re a Gimcheon player and you aren’t going to the international stage, you might as well knock the other teams around in revenge, right? What, you’re not as mean as me? Of course you are! It’s like you’re playing mario kart and your little brother is behind you just before the last lap and you’ve got a banana peel. You would use that peel, wouldn’t you? Wouldn’t you?
Go over the worst teams and the mess in Ulsan
And now we have an equally as exciting relegation round to watch this fall. FC Anyang or Gwangju could easily have made the top 6 if their final games had gone differently. Don’t expect them to drop far below 7th and 8th. Is Ulsan safe from the dreaded relegation playoffs? Not quite- at 40 points they’re in a high risk position. With all of the literal drama going on there this season, can they overcome the distractions without gaining new ones? Hell the new coach was recently accused on Instagram of assault by a former Jeonnam goalie when he was coaching the Dragons. The previous coach blamed his team’s poor performance on insubordinate players and they made a golf swing celebration during their win over Gwangju. So he ain’t coming back. They’ll just have to stick with what they’ve got until the season ends. That leaves Suwon FC, JejuSK and Daegu in the loser spots. All 3 of them have serious problems but Suwon stands the best chance of escaping the loser spot. Daegu only has 27 and they’re going to need to win out and hope everyone else falls flat on their faces like that old jerk at the Chicago No Kings protest.
Go over the playoff teams for K2
Meanwhile in the K2, we’ve got a lot going on. There are 4 rounds left with Incheon at the top and a 8 point lead over the Bluewings. The Bluewings have Bucheon and Jeonnam behind them with a bit of space but it’s going to be close. If Incheon wins at least 1 more time, they’ve got the trophy and a likely date with Daegu. If Suwon wins at least 2 more times, they’ve got the automatic playoff spot and get the next bottom feeder. Now wouldn’t it be something if Suwon FC played the Bluewings in that playoff leg? They should call it the stadium derby- winner gets the best stadium in town. Whaddya say? *joke sting*. Imagine if Man city and Man Un played by those rules? Wouldn’t it be chaotically fun?
Anyway, teams 5 through 8, which means Seoul E-Land, Seongnam, Busan, and Gimpo all have a chance to leapfrog into 3rd place. So if you’re a fan of intense footie, I think K-League 2 is going to be worth your time this season. Shoot I’m calling November 23rd Seongnam vs Busan as a game of the week this far out! If either team has a chance to get a playoff spot, then you know they’re going to play their hardest.
Go over the relegation rules for K3-K4 and the two promoted teams.
There’s never a dull movement in the K-league. I mean you’ve seen how often I put a football team in the Worst Persons in Sports awards. Sometimes I want there to be a dull moment so I can spend more time on volleyball or something. *joke sting* Anyway, we’ve got strange football updates to consider! It seems a certainty that Gimhae and Paju are going to get promoted to K2 next season so there will be no automatic relegation from the K3 League at the end of the season. Instead, the last-placed team will play one promotion-relegation match against the second-placed team from the K4 League. Right now that’s definitely Mokpo FC with 10 points oof gawd they suck! They will likely play either Namyangju, Dangjin home of the water polo football match, or Pyeongchang FC. In the pretty likely event Mokpo FC gets relegated, K3 will lose 3 teams and gain 2, giving it 14 teams for next season and 10 in K4. There’s a lot going on with Paju and Gimhae’s fan bases and governance so I expect early in K2’s season next year you’re going to hear a lot about shenanigans and misspent government money since both teams are city-sponsored. Do you think it’s time for the K1 and K2 teams to get reserve teams again? Maybe it’s time.
FC Anyang Interview with Mr. Choi.
I reached out to an FC Anyang fan because I wanted to know how they felt about their first season in the big league. FC Anyang got promoted last year and I knew the fans were poppin’ about it. In fact they played pretty well this season, almost making the playoff like I stated earlier. Mr. Choi has kindly accepted my invitation but he only had time to write his answers today so they’ll be done with this voice.
1. When did you become a fan of FC Anyang?
Choi: I started following FC Anyang when the club was re-founded in 2013. My dad and I went to a match together a few years later — probably around 2018. At first, it was just something we did for fun, but the more games I went to, the more I got drawn in. The atmosphere, the sense of community, and the pride around the club all made it feel like home.
2. How did you feel when FC Anyang got promoted last season?
Choi: It was an incredible, almost surreal moment — I still get chills thinking about it. For many of us in Anyang, it wasn’t just a football promotion; it felt like something we’d been waiting for years to reclaim.
When the old club left, it left behind more than just an empty stadium — it left a hole in the hearts of local fans. So when this new, fan-built club finally made it to Korea’s top division, it felt like we had truly brought football back to our city with our own hands. When the final whistle blew, I looked around and saw people crying, hugging, shouting “We’re back. 진짜.” It was more than joy — it was pride, relief, and a sense of belonging that words can barely describe.
3. Did this season meet expectations?
Choi: Yes, and in many ways, it exceeded them. It wasn’t just about staying competitive — it was about proving that we belong among the best. Even though the team finished in the lower half of the table, that doesn’t tell the full story. We competed with top clubs and showed that FC Anyang can hold its own in the top league. It felt like the beginning of something bigger.
4. How did you feel about the coaching this season?
Choi: The coaching staff deserves a lot of credit. They had a clear plan and stayed calm even during difficult stretches. You could see that the players trusted the system and believed in the direction. That kind of consistency is rare for a newly promoted team. It feels like the foundation for a strong future has been set.
5. What’s your opinion of the team’s foreign players?
Choi: They brought real quality to the squad — scoring important goals, creating chances, and showing leadership on the field. But what impressed me most was how well they connected with the team’s culture. They weren’t just filling positions; they became part of the family. I think with another season of adjustment, they’ll be even more influential next year.
6. What’s your prediction for next season?
Choi: FC Anyang now has a clear identity — high pressing, solid midfield control, and relentless energy.
If we can build on that and strengthen our depth, I believe a top-half finish is absolutely within reach. The fans are ready, the squad is maturing, and the momentum is building. It feels like something special is taking shape.
7. What’s your take on the possible shift of the season’s start from March to September?
Choi: I think it’s an interesting proposal. Aligning with the European calendar could make transfers and preseason planning smoother, and avoiding the extreme summer heat would be a plus. That said, there’s also something special about the current summer season — it’s when people are on vacation, families and friends can go to matches together, and the long, warm evenings make for a great matchday vibe.
If the change does happen, I just hope the league keeps fan experience at the center. That sense of community is what makes Korean football so unique.
GOTW: Tonight we’ve got Samsung vs Hanwha at 6:30pm. Either Samsung or Hanwha vs LG Sunday night. It’s gonna be a fun weekend for baseball fans of course, but also for footie. Daejeon vs Pohang is Sunday’s highlight along with Jeonbuk vs Gimcheon. Next week on the 30th in Changwon you’ll see the LG Sakers vs New Taipei Kings in EASL basketball action! Which you can watch for free on SOOP. Speaking of Asian leagues, there are rumors that Japan’s football federation will leave the AFC due to corruption issues *whisper* what they really mean is they’re tired of playing against stacked Saudi teams *end whisper* and create an East Asian team league that’s a bit more balanced.
Worst Persons: Dang it! I was hoping I would get to start the season without someone pissing me off. You know what time it is- the worst persons in the Korea Sports world!
The Nap award goes to…The referees in the Suwon Bluewings vs Hwaeseong FC match last weekend. As discussed in Osen online, the referees missed and botched so many calls on both sides of the field that this great game was ruined. The reporter mentioned that in the first minute of the match, Hwaseong’s Kim Byung-o struck Suwon’s Leo’s face with his elbow and only got a yellow card. At the end of the game, Suwon’s Lee Ki-je’s shot hit Ham Seon-woo’s arm which led to a 5 minute VAR booth review and a penalty kick for Suwon. Ham Seon-woo and Hwaseong protested, saying that the hit couldn’t have been avoided. Honesty, watching the replay, that ball was moving pretty fast. Even batman would have had problems dodging it. Anyway there are clips on Youtube on the CoupangPlay channel so you can see for yourself. But after being ruled for handball, Ham Seon-woo made the bribery hand gesture and now Suwon fans are calling for him to get penalized like Matthew was 8 years ago. But Suwon’s hands are not clean either because on the penalty kick, you can clearly see Kim Hyun kind of pause before taking the shot and scoring the goal. These referee controversies are not going to help the league get more legit, let me tell you.
The Radon award goes to…the Chinese sports media, yes ALL of them, for picking on South Korean short track speed skater Hwang Dae-heon after he was disqualified in the men’s 500 meter quarterfinals. Dae-heon bumped Sun Long during a lane change when he was in the lead, sending Long off the track. Because Dae-Heon was disqualified, Long got to the semifinals and earned 3rd in the finals. You’d figure this would be enough for the Chinese media, but boy were they mad! They claimed the audience cheered when the disqualification was announced and quote felt disgust unquote. Then for a title, the online rag NetEase had quote nature is hard to change unquote. (pause) OK… you gonna make fun of his mama too? Are you claiming he’s the Dennis the Menace of short track speed skating? Haha it’s not that serious, folks!
The Plutonium award goes to…Chungnam Asan for saying they won’t be able to pay their players’ salaries for the next 2 months as reported in Osen and the Chosun Daily. According to the article, the team is blaming the lack of sponsorship money on the summer’s heavy floods and economic downtown, but many critics are pointing to the team’s mismanagement and exceptionally large squad. They have 50 players. Yes, 50! That’s almost as many as an NFL team! In K2 the next team is Samsung Bluewings with 35 players. Part of the reason why they have so many players was because Asan almost made it to the big league last season and management decided to go all out to get to the top. But everything has gone wrong and they’re in 9th place at the time of this podcast. The governor has stepped in according to reports in Newsis dot com, with governor Kim saying quote “"So far, we have provided support of about 1 billion won in addition to the original budget support," and "Actually, I think this is too little. In the case of first-division citizen clubs, the clubs also provide support of about 10 billion won. Compared to that, I think the budget for the Chungnam Asan club is significantly smaller." unquote. Now I’m not a crybaby but this would be like the Green Bay Packers buying an entire college roster because they thought they could build a super squad to win the Super Bowl, but instead they miss the playoffs and need the state to bail them out. So, chungnam residents, do you want health care or a footie team? Chungnam Asan’s team management, today’s worst person in the Korean sports world.
Ending
Thank you for tuning in today. We hope you learned something about Korean Sports because if you didn’t you set the sleep timer too soon *joke sting*. Pass this pod on to anyone interested in Korean sports and especially rookies because trust me they need every ounce of help we can pour on them. If you don’t believe me, spend 5 minutes on Living in Korea subreddit *Joke sting*. If you wish to read along or contact the show, visit our website at hwatingsportspodcast dot com or our Facebook page and everything you need is right there. Give our podcast 5 stars if you have time. Music notes like the opening song thanks to DumiAFava. Cover art thanks to our cycling expert James! A shoutout to our listeners in Lubumbashi Congo, home of the Lubumbashi Sport football team, one of the oldest in the country. Sure they stunk last year but the fans love them! What city will I shout out next week? Find out next time, Korean Sports fans.
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Notes
Ulsan stars break silence after ex-manager blames insubordinate players for ouster
Chungnam Asan's Unpaid Salaries Spark Criticism
https://www.newsis.com/view/NISX20251021_0003370366 (Governor asks for team support)
Ulsan New Coach assault allegations
https://www.chosun.com/english/sports-en/2025/10/20/XDJTZ5M4SBGGFKSVTNNCTN7WQI/ (Nap award?)
https://www.chosun.com/english/sports-en/2025/10/20/BPOKMCPPGBDWLPQ62OEWUZB3QY/ (Radon Award?)