K League's Coaching Carousel: Suwon Samsung Hires Lee Jung-hyo as Four Clubs Announce New Managers

Is it musical chairs or a total reset? The K League just witnessed a dramatic off-season shake-up, with four clubs announcing new head coaches in a single chaotic day. The moves, affecting teams at the sharp end of promotion and relegation battles, signal an aggressive push to reshape fortunes ahead of the 2026 season.

Suwon Samsung's Big Bet on a Proven Winner

According to Yonhap News Agency, K League 2 side Suwon Samsung Bluewings has appointed former Gwangju FC boss Lee Jung-hyo. After suffering direct relegation in 2023, Suwon's hopes for a swift return to the top flight were dashed this year when they lost the promotion playoff to Jeju SK FC by a 3-0 aggregate score. Suwon stated they hired Lee for his proven track record, having led the underfunded Gwangju FC to a K League 2 title in 2022 and subsequently keeping them in the K League 1, while also reaching this year's AFC Champions League Elite quarterfinals.

The Domino Effect: Gwangju, Jeju, and Suwon FC Respond

Lee's departure triggered a series of follow-on moves. Gwangju FC moved quickly to fill the vacancy, promoting former assistant coach Lee Jung-kyu to the top job. Meanwhile, Jeju SK FC, fresh off securing their K League 1 status, appointed Portuguese tactician Sergio Costa. Costa brings valuable experience, having served as the top assistant for the South Korean men's national team under Paulo Bento from 2018 to 2022, giving him deep familiarity with the league.

The changes also swept through the other Suwon-based club. Suwon FC, who were relegated to K League 2 after a playoff loss, parted ways with head coach Kim Eun-jung and replaced him with Park Kun-ha, who previously managed crosstown rivals Suwon Samsung.