The Suwon Bluewings begin another season in a division they still feel they don’t belong in – but which recent failures suggest they do. After two failed promotion attempts, the club turned to Lee Jung-hyo to end the nightmare. Can he return Suwon to its rightful place, or will the Bluewings become a fixture in K League 2?
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Last season
20W – 12D – 7L, 2nd.
*Defeated 3-0 by Jeju SK on aggregate in the playoffs.
What happened?
The consequences of Suwon’s failure to achieve promotion to K League 1 for a second consecutive season were severe. Gone are the general manager, all the backroom staff – including first-team manager Byun Seung-hwan – and a host of senior players, including Lee Ki-jae.
Lee Ki-jae in happier times.
Suwon invested heavily in its team last winter, signing players in virtually every position. However, a terrible start – four points from the first four games – immediately put the club on the wrong foot. They never recovered sufficiently.
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One of the main weaknesses of the Suwon team in recent seasons has been their attack. A lack of goals cost the Bluewings their K League 1 status in 2023 and contributed to their dismal sixth-place finish last year. Byun completely overhauled his attacking options, bringing in proven talents – and it worked. Stanislav Iljutcenko, Matheus Serafim and Kim Ji-hyeon scored a combined 38 goals as Suwon finished the campaign with a stunning total of 76.
Unfortunately, just as one gaping hole was being repaired, another was appearing. The Bluewings have been torn at the back, conceding 50 goals in 39 matches, with another three coming against Jeju in the playoffs. These numbers are untenable, and the most frustrating thing is that in the 39 matches of the regular season, Suwon has never rectified the problem. This was compounded by Suwon falling behind in 19 of their total 42 matches. They only recovered three times to win. Teams don’t win promotion with such glaring flaws.
Notable movements
Lee Jung Hyo
The 50-year-old is not a new signing for the club, but the acquisition of the former Gwangju manager is arguably the biggest move Suwon has made in years. Lee comes in with an excellent reputation as one of the most forward-thinking Korean managers on the tour.
Will Reis party for Suwon this season?
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Réis
When Lee signed, the question immediately arose: which former Gwangju players would he bring with him? If you conducted a snap poll of Suwon supporters, Isnairo Reis Silva Morais’ name would feature prominently. The 33-year-old forward scored 10 goals in 32 matches last season and has already played in – and dominated – K League 2.
Kim Joon Hong
Goalkeeper Kim Joon-hong, 22, joins DC United on loan for a season. Kim arrived in the United States as DC’s first-choice goalkeeper, starting the first seven matches. Results did not go as expected, with the former Jeonbuk youngster conceding 12 goals in three matches before being eliminated. DC United were generally dreadful, winning just five matches and finishing with the worst record in the league. Kim will look to rebuild her form and confidence at Big Bird. The talent is undoubtedly there.
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Lee Ki Jae
The saddest aspect of Lee Ki-jae’s departure is not only that his last match ended in defeat, but that it ended in an outrageous red card. This ended a seven-year association with the Bluewings, during which he won international caps. Last season, he scored three goals and provided seven assists as Suwon’s first-choice left-back. Today, Lee practices his trade in Iran.
Key player
Park Hyun Bin
Park Hyun-bin will add some much-needed steel to Suwon’s central midfield.
Other players have arrived with greater visibility under the Lee Jung-hyo revolution, but none will fill such a glaring hole in the roster as former Bucheon FC midfielder Park Hyun-bin. The combative 22-year-old is exactly what Suwon has been missing for several seasons: a tough, uncompromising, ball-winning central midfielder who finally adds some steel to the engine room.
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Reis and Fessin will provide goals, but Suwon didn’t lack any last year. What they have been dreaming of for some time is a shield protecting their surprisingly fragile defense. Park opted out of promotion with Bucheon – where he would have been a guaranteed K League 1 starter – suggesting Suwon have made an attractive offer to a potential future Korean international.
Young player to watch
Lee Geon-hee
It may sound strange to say this, but 20-year-old right back Lee Geon-hee may not start the season as Suwon’s first-choice option. He fought off competition from experienced former Incheon United defender Jeong Dong-yoon to make 27 appearances in a shaky backline last season.
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Lee did enough to be called up to the Korean under-23 team, and fans probably felt he still had room to grow. The club’s signing of Gyeongnam FC right back Lee Jun-jae has added depth to the position. Lee Geon-hee was less culpable than most of his senior defensive partners for Suwon’s defensive failures and posed a real marauding threat down the right flank.
The biggest question
Is Lee Jung-hyo the man to wake the giant?
The Suwon Bluewings are poised to become a fixture in K League 2. This season marks their third year in the Korean second division – an unthinkable scenario when relegation struck in 2023.
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They responded to the inability to get an immediate return by investing heavily in an attack that had failed for years. It still wasn’t enough. Fears of a reduction in financial support, however, proved unfounded.
Getting Lee Jung-hyo on a five-year deal was the coup of the winter. The former Busan player came close to delivering Gwangju their first major trophy in December and soon after guided the club to the ACL Elite quarter-finals. Now he is preparing for trips to Paju Frontier and Ansan Greeners.
Suwon has placed all of his eggs in this – admittedly impressive – basket. Lee is the best manager in Korea. He has a strong team and incredible support behind him. If he can’t secure promotion, it’s hard to imagine who can.
Reason to watch
Everything fun about the Suwon Samsung Bluewings happens off the field, unless you’re a rival supporter. The club averaged 12,048 spectators in 2025, its highest figure in a decade. Big Bird is a magnificent stadium and attending a match remains one of the best football experiences in Korea.
The atmosphere at Big Bird is one of the best in Korea.
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Despite recent disappointments, these attendance figures are unlikely to drop, largely due to the excitement over Lee Jung-hyo’s arrival. If the former Gwangju manager manages to catch a track from his band, it could be a fascinating season to follow.
