In their second season under popular manager Park Taeha, the Steelers had a relatively successful season, finishing fourth in the league to qualify for next season’s ACL play-offs and progressing to the knockout stage of this season’s ACL Two.
Advertisement
What went well
Despite a series of disappointing results at the 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 their main rivals and defending champions Ulsan HD. The club thus qualified for the ACLE play-offs, while securing its place for the knockout phase of the ACL2 2025-26.
When it comes to season highlights, it would be remiss not to mention the headline-grabbing summer signing of Ki Sungyueng from FC Seoul. The news of his transfer was deliciously dramatic, as it emerged the same week the two clubs met in the league, with 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 proved his worth on the field, and his relationship with Shin Kwanghoon was an unexpected but charming subplot for the second half of the season. For a fan base more accustomed to saying goodbye to future stars than welcoming an established name of Ki’s caliber, his arrival was a symbol of mutual trust and respect between manager and supporters. The announcement of his contract renewal on Christmas morning was a playful nod to that: Park Taeha’s gift to a fan base that has steadfastly supported him since he took office in 2024.
Park is a club legend himself, having spent his entire playing career at the Steelyard; his own contract extension (until 2028) in October sparked an enthusiastic response. Park is part of this club’s DNA, as evidenced by his nickname “Taebuji” (a cutesy portmanteau of his first name and “abeoji”, Korean for “father”). The trust between manager and fans stands in stark contrast to what’s happening at some rival clubs this season (without naming names, of course), giving the Steelers a stable foundation to build on. The club’s slogan for 2025, “Steel Strong”, might be a little corny, even eye-rolling, if there wasn’t so much seriousness and raw conviction behind it.
Advertisement
The fans themselves deserve credit for their contributions throughout the season: the average attendance at home games was over 10,000 and enthusiastic support was also seen on the road. 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 fans chant “Pohang is still strong,” you can tell they believe it. The unwavering loyalty of the proud home fans and the fervent atmosphere of the Steelyard should not be underestimated as ingredients in the Steelers’ recipe for success.
What didn’t go well
Pohang’s improvement in the league standings masks the fact that this year’s results were not significantly better than in 2024 – their position in the standings owes as much to the shock of others as to the Steelers’ own success. With Ulsan undoubtedly aiming for a redemption arc in 2026 and promoted sides from K League 2 looking increasingly competitive, Pohang need more consistent results if they are to retain their status as a top-half side.
The Steelers have only scored 41 league goals this season; only Gwangju, Jeju and Gangwon collected less. Of these 41, 15 are the work of Lee Hojae, who now appears to be based in Pohang until the summer of 2026, but whose eventual departure for an opportunity abroad is surely inevitable. When he leaves, someone else will have to step in and score a few goals. There have been opportunities: The Steelers (probably) are at the top of the leaderboard for hitting the post, hitting the crossbar or missing an open field goal with no defender in sight.
Advertisement
The agonizing near misses haven’t been the only source of grief for Pohang fans in 2025. On several occasions, the team took an early lead only to concede the late equalizer (and, sometimes, a subsequent winner). These moments contributed to Pohang finishing the season with a negative goal difference and made the team frustrating and unpredictable. Aside from the K League itself, the club suffered a shaky start to the ACL Two campaign and failed to win a third consecutive Korea Cup, crashing out of the competition in a humiliating round of 16 defeat to 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 before this season. He made his debut in round 5 and was in the starting lineup the following week. Despite suffering a minor injury in the spring, Kang played in 27 matches this season. With his impressive pace and stamina, he is more than capable of playing a full 90 minutes, but has also proven useful as an impact substitute, often sharing right-back duties with his long-time role model Shin Kwanghoon. Kang’s performances for Pohang this year have rightly made him a regular for the South Korean U-23 team, with whom he will travel to the U-23 Asian Cup in January.
Advertisement
Team MVP
Jeon Mingwang played almost every minute of Pohang’s 2025 K League campaign, missing just one game. Having become club captain after Wanderson’s injury ruled him out for the season, experienced defender Jeon is a leader on and off the pitch. He brings much-needed stability and composure to the heart of a team that combines youth, seasoned veterans and a range of strong personalities.
Honorary mentions go to Eo Jeongwon, another solid and reliable player in the team who has been in particularly good form in the final weeks of the season, and Lee Hojae, without whose goals Pohang would be in a much worse situation.
Advertisement
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 that status didn’t last long: he only played eight league matches in the 2024 season, and although he played a part 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, as well as a handful of cup matches and ACL Two matches. He is not unpopular at the Steelyard, perhaps because many people have forgotten he was still there. Certainly, there are no hard feelings towards Aspro as he moves on to pastures new this winter, but his on-field contributions over the past two seasons have done little to write his name in the Pohang history books.
Most important decision of the offseason
Veterans Shin Kwanghoon and Ki Sungyueng are signed for another year, and a quartet of academy youngsters are set to make their senior debuts in 2026. Still, the Steelers need to restore balance after a string of playoff departures. With key player Lee Hojae likely to leave this summer, Park Taeha not only needs to build a competitive team ahead of the 2026 K League, but also look forward to the second half of the season and a potential ACLE campaign. For now, at least, Park enjoys the trust of Pohang’s supporters – his signings don’t need to be flashy, as long as they are willing to work hard to earn that same trust.
