The "five teams" were chosen by coaches with experience in promotion [Media Day On-Site]

*This content was translated by AI.

The 'war' of K League 2 clubs toward promotion to the K League 1 of professional football begins. The heads of coaches who have already experienced promotion have focused on five teams, including Suwon Samsung and Daegu FC.

The Korea Professional Football Association held a media day for the opening of Hana Bank's K League 2026 at the Swiss Grand Hotel in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul on the 25th. Following the K-League 1 opening media day held in the morning, the K-League 2 opening media day, which involved heads of 17 K-League 2 clubs and fans, continued from 3 p.m.

With the participation of Gimhae FC, Yongin FC, and Paju FC, up to four teams can be promoted to K League 2 this season, which has been expanded to 17 teams. The 1st and 2nd teams will be promoted directly, and the final winning team of the K League 2 Playoff (PO) will also be promoted by the 3rd to 6th teams. On top of that, if the lowest K-League 1 is not Gimcheon Sangmu, additional POs will be held between the team that lost the K-League 2 PO final and the lowest K-League 1 team.

The eyes of the head coaches, who had previously experienced the team's promotion to K League 1, were divided into five teams. It was Suwon and Daegu, Suwon FC, Gimpo FC, and Seoul E-Land. In particular, Suwon and Daegu were all nominated for promotion from four head coaches. Daegu and Suwon FC, who were demoted from K League 1, were also classified as strong candidates for promotion.

Son Hyun-joon, manager of Gyeongnam FC, said, "I led Daegu's promotion in the past, and of course, it hurts that the team that should be in K League 1 is in K League 2. I think I will be in K League 1 next year because I have a competent coach and a good club. I sincerely pray for it, he said. "We expect to be promoted in the order of Daegu, Suwon, Gimpo, and Suwon FC."

Kim Do-kyun, head coach of Seoul E-Land, who led Suwon FC's promotion, said, "If you play a season, you will have a crisis. How well we overcome the crisis is the key to promotion, he said. "I think our team will compete with Suwon, Daegu, Suwon FC, and Gimpo."

"Suwon, Daegu, Seoul E-Land, Gimpo, and Suwon FC are candidates for promotion," said Park Jin-seop, head coach of Cheonan City. "The early game is very important for promotion." He explained, "I think I'll be in the mood when I lead the early games in the desired direction." Yongin FC coach Choi Yoon-kyum also said, "We consider Seoul E-Land, Suwon and Daegu as candidates for promotion."

Suwon's coach Lee Jung-hyo, who received the most expected promotion votes along with Daegu, said, "It doesn't matter how you get promoted. "If there are variables, the game against Gyeongnam FC, Chungnam Asan, Paju FC, Gimhae FC, and Cheongju FC is more important. "If you focus on each of these games and push ahead with Suwon's own direction, there will be good results," he said.

Gimpo coach Ko Jung-woon, who also received the attention of many head coaches and smiled, added, "I expect the promotion of Suwon, Suwon FC, Seoul E-Land, and Daegu." This season's K League 2 will kick off its new season through the opening match between Gimhae and Ansan at 2 p.m. on the 28th.

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*This content was translated by AI.