The end of the 2025 WK League is almost upon us, with only the playoff match and championship final left to go. After consistently strong performances throughout the 28 rounds of the regular league season, Hwacheon KSPO were crowned league champions for the second year in a row, securing the right to host the second leg of the final at their home ground in rural Gangwon province. Seoul City Amazones and Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels finished below them in second and third places respectively, and will now go head-to-head in the playoff this Saturday, fighting for the chance to challenge Hwacheon for the WK League trophy.
The match
Seoul City Amazones vs. Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels
14:00, Saturday 1st November 2025
Auxiliary Field, Seoul World Cup Stadium
Cable broadcast: KBSN Sports (Skylife 203, SKBTV 985, LGU+ 105, Genie TV 59)
Online streaming: YouTube via KBSN Sports
The teams
As the higher-ranked team, Seoul are hosting the playoff at their home ground. The Amazones quickly became one of the 2025 WK League’s most formidable opponents after beating title hopefuls Gyeongju KHNP 4-1 on the opening day of the season to go straight to the top of the table, where they stayed until they were overtaken by Hwacheon in Round 13. Seoul have only dropped out of playoff contention once, in Round 20, but quickly recovered their position and even came close to knocking Hwacheon off the top spot as the league season reached its conclusion.
At the heart of Seoul’s success is manager Yoo Youngsil, a former player who is passionate and vocal about the expansion of women’s football in Korea. In charge at Seoul since 2019, Yoo has previously stated that one of her long-term goals is to manage a men’s team. Before she thinks about leaving the WK League behind, Yoo wants to lead Seoul to a championship title, and after finishing outside of playoff contention for six seasons, she finally has a realistic chance. On and off the pitch, Yoo’s squad appear unified and happy — look no further than Seoul’s goal celebrations and viral video challenges for evidence of a good playing environment at the club.
Prior to Yoo’s tenure, Seoul City’s best WK League finish was in 2013, when they made it to the championship final but lost 4-2 on aggregate to Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels, in what would be the first of eleven consecutive WK League titles for the club. Incheon’s seemingly endless run of wins came to a historic end last year when the team finished outside of the playoff spots for the first time ever.
With new manager Hur Jeongjae at the helm, Incheon’s resurrection has been somewhat understated — they faced disappointment at the AWCL early in the season, and postponed fixtures masked their true form in the league, perhaps giving some of their rivals a false sense of security in their relative positions. Although the Red Angels have done enough to get back in the title race, they have been less successful in attacking play than the other teams around them, relying on the quality of their defence to pick up points in narrow victories and low-scoring draws. Their final push for third place was made somewhat easier by a dropoff in form from rivals Gyeongju KHNP towards the end of the season.
Head-to-head results
Seoul and Incheon have played each other four times so far this season. In both of their first two league meetings, the teams drew 1-1. In the following two fixtures, Seoul won 2-1, once at home and once away in Incheon. For Seoul, one of the league’s highest-scoring teams, the narrow scorelines are proof of Incheon’s defensive capability. The Amazones will be hoping that the home advantage gives them an extra edge over the visitors this Saturday.
In a departure from previous years, according to WK League rules there will be no extra time or penalty shoot out at Saturday’s playoff. If things are all square after 90 minutes and injury time, the home team will progress to the final on the basis of the final league positions.
Key players
Seoul City’s Han Chaerin is one of the 2025 WK League’s top goalscorers and she has been recognised by the KWFF as Player of the Round twice this season. Ably assisting in creating opportunities for Seoul are two of the up-and-coming stars of Korean women’s football, Jung Minyoung and Kim Minji. Slight but powerful, Jung made her senior international debut in a friendly against Colombia in June, scoring the equalising goal and picking up the Player of the Match award. By the time the EAFF E-1 Championship came around the following month, Jung was in Shin Sangwoo’s starting eleven. Alongside her, making her own A match debut, was Kim Minji. Whether for club or country, Kim storms around the pitch with impressive stamina, ensuring she is never too far from the goal action.
Unlike Seoul, Incheon’s strength lies in their defence, in particular calm and dependable centre back Lim Seonjoo. The Red Angels will have to work hard to stop the Seoul goal machine, but if they play to their strengths and hold the fort in defence, quick thinking and pacy midfielder Oh Yeonhee could be key to creating counterattacking opportunities. Forward Choe Yuri made headlines when she returned to Incheon this summer after a spell playing for Birmingham City in England’s WSL2. Now having had ample time to settle back into life as a Red Angel, Choe will be hoping to make an impact in the playoff.
There’s also notable goalkeeping talent at both ends of the pitch. Incheon’s Kim Jungmi has been at the club for over twenty years, and was making saves for Korea before some of her teammates were born. Now the WK League’s oldest player, one club woman Kim has continued to make regular appearances for the Red Angels, in recent seasons rotating with Korea’s current number 1 Kim Minjung. Having two goalkeepers of this calibre on the books has been a huge asset for Incheon, maintaining stability in defence even when one or the other is unavailable. In recent weeks, Kim Minjung has been absent from the teamsheet due to an injury. Between the sticks for Seoul will be Woo Seobin, representing a new generation of Korean women’s football. Woo was selected by Seoul at the 2025 WK League draft and made her league debut in the first match of the season. She has been one of the breakout stars of the 2025 WK League, her performances for Seoul earning Woo her first senior South Korea call-up earlier this year.
What to expect
With no additional time, no second leg, and no penalty shootout, the playoff match between Seoul City Amazones and Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels will be 90 minutes of all-or-nothing grit and determination. Seoul vs. Incheon is a game of attack vs. defence. With their home support bolstered by neutral fans, many of whom would rather see Seoul in the final, the Amazones should be aiming to do what they do best, scoring goals, and making it as hard as possible for the visitors to get back in the game. From Incheon’s perspective, even a narrow win is enough to progress to the final, but with Seoul having the advantage of progressing in the case of a draw, the Red Angels cannot afford to sit back and defend a one- or two-goal lead. The odds seem to be stacked slightly in Seoul’s favour, but it won’t be an easy feat to see off the eleven-time WK League champions. Whatever the result, tomorrow’s playoff should be a tense and exciting match, not to be missed for fans and followers of the WK League.
For those attending the match, both Seoul City and the KWFF are advertising giveaway events. According to Amazones social media, the first 300 people to enter via the home fans entrance will receive a Seoul WFC T-shirt from kit provider Hummel. The KWFF will also be handing out souvenirs at the gate, with branded goodies including air purifiers, USB memory sticks, umbrellas and bags up for grabs.
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