2025 Season Review: FC Pohang Steelers | OneFootball

In their second season under hugely popular manager Park Taeha, the Steelers have had a relatively successful season, finishing fourth in the league to qualify for next season’s ACLE play-off round and progressing to the knockout stage of this season’s ACL Two. 

What Went Well

Despite an anticlimactic run of results at the tail end of the season, the Steelers finished in fourth place in K League 1, two places higher than in 2024 and five places higher than arch-rivals and defending champions Ulsan HD. The club has qualified for the ACLE play-off round in the process, as well as securing their place in the knockout stage of the 2025-26 ACL2.

As for season highlights, it would be remiss not to mention the headline-grabbing summer signing of Ki Sungyueng from FC Seoul. The news of his move was deliciously dramatic, emerging as it did in the same week that the two clubs met in the league, Pohang manager Park Taeha seeing potential where his predecessor (and current Seoul manager) Kim Gidong did not. There were doubters, but not for long —  Ki has proved his worth on the pitch, and his bromance with Shin Kwanghoon has been an unexpected but charming subplot to the latter half of the season. For a fanbase more accustomed to waving goodbye to future stars than welcoming in an established name of Ki’s calibre, his arrival was symbolic of mutual trust and respect between the manager and supporters. The announcement of his contract renewal on Christmas morning was a playful nod to this — Park Taeha’s gift to a fanbase that has been firmly behind him since he took charge in 2024.

Park is himself a club legend, having spent his entire playing career at the Steelyard; his own contract extension (through 2028) in October was met with an enthusiastic response. Park is part of the DNA of this club, as evidenced by his nickname ‘Taebuji’ (a cutesy portmanteau of his forename and ‘abeoji’, Korean for ‘father’). The trust between manager and fans stands in stark contrast to the goings-on at certain rival clubs this season (naming no names, of course), giving the Steelers a stable foundation to build upon. The club’s 2025 slogan, ‘Steel Strong’, could be a little naff, even eye-roll-inducing, if there weren’t so much earnestness and raw belief behind it.

The fans themselves deserve credit for their contributions throughout the season — the average attendance for home games was over 10,000, and there was enthusiastic support on the road, too. There’s a tangible sense of history and community at the Steelyard, where a giant decorative stone reads “Korean professional football starts from here”, and when supporters chant “Pohang is forever strong”, you can tell they believe it. The unwavering loyalty of proud local fans and the fervent atmosphere at the Steelyard should not be underestimated as ingredients in the Steelers’ recipe for success.

What Didn't Go Well

Pohang’s improved league finish disguises the fact that results this year were not significantly better than in 2024 — their position in the table owes as much to others having a bit of a shocker as it does the Steelers’ own success. With the likes of Ulsan no doubt aiming for a 2026 redemption arc, and sides promoted from K League 2 looking increasingly competitive, Pohang need more consistent results if they want to maintain their status as a top-half team.

The Steelers have scored just 41 goals in the league this season; only Gwangju, Jeju, and Gangwon have netted fewer. Of those 41, 15 were the work of Lee Hojae, who now appears to be settled in Pohang until summer 2026, but whose eventual departure for an opportunity overseas is surely inevitable. When he does go, someone else will have to step up and score some goals. There have been opportunities: the Steelers (probably) top the rankings for hitting the post, hitting the crossbar, or missing an open goal with no defenders in sight.

Agonising near-misses were not the only source of heartbreak for Pohang fans in 2025. On several occasions the team has taken an early lead only to concede a late equaliser (and, sometimes, a subsequent winner). These moments have contributed to Pohang finishing the season on a negative goal difference and made the team frustratingly unpredictable. Besides the K League itself, the club had a shaky start to their ACL Two campaign and failed to lift a third consecutive Korea Cup, crashing out of the competition in a humiliating Round of 16 defeat at the hands of K League 2 side Gimpo FC.

Young Player of the Year

A product of Pohang’s youth system, Kang Minjun signed his first professional contract with the Steelers ahead of this season. He made his debut in round 5 and was in the starting eleven the following week. Despite a minor injury setback in the spring, Kang has made 27 appearances this season. With his impressive pace and stamina, he is more than capable of playing a full 90 minutes but has also proved useful as an impact substitute, often sharing duties at right back with his long-time role model Shin Kwanghoon. Kang’s performances for Pohang this year have rightfully made him a regular in South Korea’s U-23 squad, with whom he will be travelling to the U-23 Asian Cup in January.

Team MVP

Jeon Mingwang has played almost all minutes of Pohang’s 2025 K League campaign, missing only one match. Stepping up as club captain after Wanderson’s injury ruled him out for the season, experienced defender Jeon is a leader on and off the pitch. He provides much-needed stability and composure at the heart of a squad that combines youngsters, seasoned veterans, and a range of strong personalities.

Honourary mentions go to Eo Jeongwon, another sturdy and reliable squad player who has been on particularly good form in the last few weeks of the season, and Lee Hojae, without whose goals Pohang would be much worse off.

Most Disappointing Player

Jonathan Aspropotamitis, known to fans as Aspro, arrived in Pohang last year from Australia and was in the starting lineup for the season opener, but this status didn’t last long — he made only eight league appearances across the 2024 season, and although he played a role in the Steelers' Korea Cup victory, his contract extension came as a surprise to some fans. Aspro has only been seen in five league matches this year, plus a handful of cup games and ACL Two fixtures. He’s not unpopular at the Steelyard, possibly because quite a few people forgot he was still there. Certainly, there are no hard feelings towards Aspro as he moves on to pastures new this winter, but his contributions on the pitch over the past two seasons have done little to write his name into the Pohang history books.

Most Important Decision of the Off-Season

Veterans Shin Kwanghoon and Ki Sungyueng are signed on for another year, and a quartet of youngsters from the academy are set to make their senior debut in 2026. Still, the Steelers need to restore balance following a series of post-season departures. With key player Lee Hojae likely to move on in the summer, Park Taeha needs not only to build a competitive squad ahead of the 2026 K League, but also to look ahead to the second half of the season, and a potential ACLE campaign. For now, at least, Park has the trust of Pohang’s supporters in spades — his signings do not need to be flashy, as long as they are prepared to work hard to earn that same belief.