What does Suwon Bluewings' winter reshuffle tell us about their prospects?

Suwon Bluewings are about to embark on a third season in K League 2; a prospect no one could have imagined in 2023. The situation is now critical, so they have turned to the best manager in Korea to end the nightmare: Lee Jung-hyo.

A friend—who supports Suwon—asked me after the playoff defeat in Jeju last month, “Do you think the fans will stop watching?” There was a very real chance the answer might have beenyes. The Bluewings boasted the fourth-best home support in Korea (despite being in K League 2) and the best away averages. After a dull, lifeless failure in sunny Seogwipo, it was reasonable to assume some supporters would turn away.

Another question was whether Samsung would stop financing a club on the wane. One year in K League 2 is bad enough; two is embarrassing. Three? That’s an aberration. Those fears were eased when the club announced it was hiring Lee Jung-hyo, Gwangju FC’s inspirational manager. This wasn’t just the club putting an arm around disgruntled supporters; it was their way of saying:enough is enough.

The season is slated to kick off next month—although the fixtures have yet to be released—and Suwon will soon embark on their pre-season preparations. What does Lee’s appointment, and the high staff turnover, tell us about their prospects this year?

Significant Departures

Presumably after talks with new manager Lee Jong-hyo, Suwon took a sledgehammer to their 2025 squad. The contrast with the previous winter was telling. Back then, none of the departures could be seen as key. Lee’s loan deal expired and he returned to FC Seoul. Jang Ho-ik’s long association with the club came to an end, but the full-back had only been a peripheral figure since Covid. Fejsal Mulic also left after two underwhelming seasons.

Léo Andrade was one of the last Suwon players to walk off the pitch in Jeju. The Brazilian was distraught after his side failed to overturn their first-leg deficit. His affection towards his new club was obvious, despite an injury-interrupted start. Léo featured 29 times in the league and completed the full 90 minutes in 23 of his last 24 appearances. Still only 27, he looked to have a future in Suwon.

Lee Ki-jae leads the list of departures.

Lee Ki-jae’s final act in a Suwon jersey was to pick up an extremely harsh straight red card in the second leg of the playoffs. Suwon were already 2–0 down on aggregate, so his dismissal probably had no major impact. But it was a disappointing way to bring the curtain down on 212 Suwon appearances. At 34, fans might have expected Lee to show signs of fatigue. That’s not how it played out; he played the second-highest number of minutes of his career (2,866), scored three goals, and provided seven assists (his best figures since 2022).

Matheus Serafim was Suwon’s player of the season. The Brazilian winger arrived without a strong reputation, but he produced arguably the best season of his career. Thirteen goals and six assists planted Serafim firmly in the discussion for a spot in the Best XI. As summer made way for winter, Suwon’s hopes of overtaking Incheon United at the summit of K League 2 rested squarely on his shoulders. It was ironic that the match in which Suwon surrendered their challenge—against Jeonnam Dragons—was the day Serafim went off injured.

Han Ho-gang has returned to Japan, the country of his birth, following a three-year stay at Big Bird. Veterans Choi Young-jun and Kim Min-woo have signed for new boys Yongin FC. Meanwhile, the influential Lee Gyu-sung has returned to Ulsan HD following the conclusion of his loan deal. The list of departures is a long one and greatly affects the left side of defence and central midfield.

Major arrivals

ManagerLee Jung-hyo is not just Suwon’s major arrival for 2026; it might be the country’s best piece of business. After a tepid two-legged defeat at the hands of Jeju SK, Suwon supporters were understandably livid. The club owed them big time—and on Christmas Eve, they dropped something under the tree. Lee spent several seasons bouncing around the league as an assistant manager before taking over at relegated Gwangju FC in early 2022. Since then: automatic promotion, third place in K League 1, ACL Elite quarter-finals, and a first-ever Korea Cup.

Park Hyun-bin, right, tussles for possession.

On January 7, Bucheon FC midfielderPark Hyun-bin signed for the Bluewings. Of all the players linked with the club, Park’s arrival is the most fascinating. A ball-winning, no-nonsense central midfielder and only 22 years old, he is a future Korean international. Park has been a regular in the Bucheon midfield for two seasons, playing 34 times in 2025 as Bucheon won promotion. He has put K League 1 football on hold for at least a year. Park picked up nine yellow cards and a red last term.

Park was joined that Wednesday by former Busan IPark forwardJefferson Gabriel Nascimento Brito, better known as Fessin. The 27-year-old Brazilian spent three seasons on the south coast and will be a direct replacement for Matheus Serafim. Fessin scored 12 times for a poor Busan side in 2025, including a match-winner against Suwon in September. He did the same in 2024. Serafim has since been linked with Daegu FC. He is a good player but some of his crosses are weak - regularly hitting the first man. Suwon will be relying on Fessin to be more accurate.

Since Gwangju FC earned automatic promotion for the 2023 season, Lee has almost exclusively used a 4-4-2 formation from the start of matches, before shifting to a 3-5-2. Lee is known as a keen student of the game, working tirelessly to observe global trends and apply ideas to his own team. Gwangju, under his leadership, were proactive, with high pressing and structured build-up play. Lee favours centre-backs comfortable in possession, allowing attacks to begin from the back.

As reported in the Jungang Daily, “one signature tactic involves defenders holding the ball to draw in the opposition, creating space for an unmarked midfielder to initiate a quick attack.”

A prominent local journalist told me last season: *“It is impressive to have the centre-back who handles the ball best in the modified three-back system own possession for a long time or dribble boldly forward to disrupt the opponent’s shape. The numerical advantage created through forward pressure and opposite-footed full-backs is also a tactic that could work overseas, beyond the K League.”*

Ju Se-jong swapped an upwardly mobile Daejeon Hana for Lee’s Gwangju in February. “One of the reasons I chose Gwangju,” Ju said, “was to play for Lee.” Icelandic international striker Hólmbert Aron Friðjónsson joined that summer from Germany. “The passion he brings,” Friðjónsson stresses, “sets Lee apart. He wants everything done in detail. Every tactic comes with huge amounts of information because he wants it perfect. I think he’s a really promising coach.”

Is this the new look Suwon Bluewings?

I am far from certain Suwon will start the season with this XI when K League 2 begins next month. For one, some of the players in the graphic are rumoured arrivals but, at the time of publication, remain unconfirmed: Kim Joon-hong (DC United), Jeong Ho-yeon (Minnesota United), and Reis (Gwangju FC). That is why they are not listed above among key arrivals. The consensus, however, is that all three will join.

Secondly, the club is still actively recruiting. The left-hand side of the line-up is incomplete. Lee Ki-jae’s departure leaves a huge hole in terms of leadership, experience, and assists, and it is unlikely to be adequately filled by Lee Sang-min alone. Finally, 22-year-old right-back Lee Jun-jae has just signed for the club, while regular starter Lee Geon-hee remains at Suwon.

Under Lee Jung-hyo, Gwangju sauntered to the K League 2 title in 2022. That is, of course, where Suwon now find themselves for the third straight season—mired in the second division and, before his appointment, beginning to resemble an established club at that level. That 2022 campaign was Lee’s first as a manager. Promotion was built on a strong attack and a miserly defence, conceding just 32 goals in 40 matches.

Will the Suwon fans be smiling next season?

What is striking about that season is how much K League 2 has changed in a short space of time. There were 11 clubs then; this season there will be 17. The top four in 2022—Gwangju, Daejeon Hana, FC Anyang, and Bucheon FC—are now all in K League 1. Brand-new clubs have since joined the league, including three newcomers in 2026: Yongin FC, Paju Frontier, and Gimhae.

Does this make K League 2 easier? In some respects, yes. The league simply cannot sustain 17 professional teams; there isn’t enough quality to go around. Seongnam FC were close to promotion, but the Magpies have been gutted in the off-season. Whatever team lines up on opening day will bear little resemblance to the side eliminated by Bucheon in late November.

Daegu FC and Suwon FC were relegated in early winter and will be Suwon’s most likely challengers for automatic promotion. Next come Seoul E-Land, once the laughing stock, now genuine promotion contenders. Yongin FC have assembled a squad of ageing but highly experienced professionals. It won’t be enough for an immediate return to the top flight, but it will make them awkward opponents.

None of this should matter. Suwon have the best manager and the strongest squad in the division. Promotion should be a mere formality. We’ve said that before—but this time, it’s different. Isn’t it?