With the third and final round robin of the 2025 Hana Bank K League 2 season now entering the midway point, the race for the playoffs and promotion as a whole is reaching the final furlong. With four playoff spots up for grabs, at least seven teams will feel as though they have a genuine chance of extending their seasons. What are some of the key matches in the promotion race during this midweek Chuseok card of fixtures as the season reaches Round 33?
Key Promotion Race Matches
Chungbuk Cheongju (13th) vs. Gimpo FC (7th)
Tuesday 7th October – 16:30
Gimpo FC are unbeaten in four heading into the midweek action, but drew their last two matches to see their playoff momentum wane ever so slightly. Perhaps more frustratingly, Gimpo went ahead at home to last-place Ansan Greeners but had to settle for a point. In the grand scheme of things, given how tight the playoff race is, dropping points isn’t a huge catastrophe. Gimpo remain just two points outside the top five and still have fixtures with playoff rivals to come between now and the end of the season. Up next, however, is a trip to a struggling Chungbuk Cheongju side. Gimpo put three past the Lions in this fixture in July, thanks to goals from Djalma, Kim Min-woo, and Park Dong-jin. For the latter, five goals and two assists in 15 matches represent a good return for a striker brought in to give Ko Jeong-woon’s men some extra attacking impetus.
Cheonan City (12th) vs. Busan IPark (5th)
Wednesday 8th October – 14:00
Another K League 2 promotion hopeful that’s seen the momentum wane slightly is Busan IPark. The Royals have drawn their last three on the spin and have slipped down to fifth again, having briefly moved up a place. The most recent draw saw them come back from behind in the Nakdong River Derby at home to a Gyeongnam FC side that has nothing to play for. Busan face another side this weekend that has nothing to play for in Cheonan City. Cheonan lost heavily to Jeonnam last time out and are now in danger of dropping to second bottom of the table. Being away from home this Wednesday may suit Jo Sung-hwan and his team, with the South Coast side having earned more wins on the road (8) than they have at home (5), and with fewer losses (3 away, 5 at home). Busan will need to be better in front of goal if they don’t want to make life difficult for themselves. They sit third in K League 2 for big chances missed with 15, but rank first for possession won in the final third per 90 (3.6), so are at least winning the ball back in the right areas.
Bucheon FC 1995 (4th) vs. Seongnam FC (8th)
Wednesday 8th October – 16:30
Two Gyeonggi Province sides looking to extend their season. Both may well end up doing just that, with space for both in the top five. Bucheon, having surrendered a 2-0 lead to settle for a draw away to the Bluewings, have now slipped to fourth and have seen Busan move level on points with them. The Reds now only have a two-point cushion over the chasing pack. One of those teams is Seongnam FC, who sit on 48 points and know that a win could see them move back into the top five. It was one for sorrow for the Magpies last time out, suffering a 2-0 home loss to Seoul E-Land, so will need to put that disappointment behind them and bounce back. Seongnam are defensively sound, with the joint-second highest number of clean sheets (15), and have conceded the third-fewest number of goals (27). At the other end, Leonardo Ruiz is in the running for the golden boot with 15 goals to his name, just three shy of Stefan Mugosa. Bucheon, meanwhile, are second for shots on target per 90,
K League 2 Playoffs – How do they work?
Second place, or the K League 2 runners-up, will face 11th in K League 1 in a two-leg playoff. The winners will play in K League 1 next season, the losers will play in K League 2. As things stand, this would mean Jeju SK facing Suwon Samsung Bluewings for a place in the top flight in 2026,
Third down to fifth will compete to face 10th in K League 1. Third will get a bye of sorts to the next round, then fourth play fifth over one leg, with fourth at home and only needing a draw. Third faces the winners of fourth versus fifth over one leg, again with the home team only needing a draw. The winners of that contest then face 10th in K League 1 over two legs. As things stand, in this ever-changing top five, Bucheon would face Busan to earn the right to face Jeonnam for the right to face Ulsan.
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