2026 Season Preview: Bucheon FC 1995

A season like no other for Bucheon ended in glory at Castle Park. For the first time ever, Bucheon FC 1995 are a K League 1 club, and given the upcoming changes to Korean domestic football at the end of 2026, this is arguably the best season ever to go up.

Last Season

19W - 10D - 10L, 3rd.

*Defeated Suwon FC 4-2 on aggregate in the playoffs.

Bucheon FC are no strangers to playoff football in K League 2, having suffered more heartbreak than any other club. That is no longer the case. Two swashbuckling performances against Suwon FC saw them win the promotion decider and finally advance to K League 1. Don’t be fooled by the 4–2 aggregate scoreline — this was more comprehensive than that. What makes it even more astonishing is that Bucheon finished 8th in 2024.

The campaign began well before stuttering, as happens, in the middle third. Despite a couple of rollercoaster spells, it ended with a remarkably consistent finish. As their main rivals for third dropped points late on, Bucheon suffered just one defeat in ten. When I visited the club during this run, their confidence was striking. With two months still to play, they were already calling their destiny.

It helped having one of the league’s best foreign players in Rodrigo Bassani (14 goals, six assists), alongside the most destructive young midfielder in Park Hyun-bin. Park formed a formidable partnership with Japanese midfielder Takahashi Kazuki, creating an almost indestructible shield in front of the three-man defence. At the same time, Bucheon were also slaying K League 1 opposition en route to the Korea Cup semi-finals.

Was Lee Young-min robbed of the Manager of the Year award?

Incredibly, Lee Young-min did not win the K League 2 Manager of the Year award, which instead went to Incheon’s Yoon Jung-hwan. Yoon won the title with a K League 1-calibre squad containing several internationals. Lee, by contrast, improved Bucheon’s points total by 18, climbed five places, secured promotion, and reached the last four of the cup. It was nothing short of sensational.

Notable Moves

Park Hyun-bin

Park’s departure from Bucheon to Suwon is a hammer blow for the club. Still only 22, Park looks like a future captain and national team defensive midfielder in waiting. After joining from Incheon United, he became a mainstay in Bucheon’s midfield, amassing 62 appearances, mostly starts. His disciplinary record shows a player who loves to get stuck in. Park was a destructive force in front of the central defence, thwarting attacks and tidying up. A huge loss.

Yoon Bit-garam at pre-season training.

Yoon Bit-garam

Former Korean international midfielder Yoon signed on a free transfer from Suwon FC over the winter break. It is unlikely Yoon will be a direct replacement for Park, but a player of his quality, experience, and popularity will always be valuable. Yoon made his league debut back in 2010 for Gyeongnam FC and has since enjoyed spells at Jeju SK, Ulsan, Seongnam, and Suwon FC, as well as a sojourn in China.

Vitor Gabriel

With much of the focus on Bassani, John Montaño flew under the radar for Bucheon in 2025. Twelve goals is a decent return for the Colombian, and he will lead the line in the first division. However, depth is important, and that’s where Vitor Gabriel fits in. The Brazilian joins from Gangwon FC, where his four goals in 27 appearances didn’t exactly strike fear into opponents. He will be a valuable asset off the bench as K League crams in a lot of football ahead of the World Cup. Vitor Gabriel will always be a legend at Gangwon for keeping them up in 2023.

Patrick William

Patrick spent last season in J1 with Kyoto Sanga and arrives in Bucheon on a free transfer. In total, the Brazilian (he’ll feel right at home in K League 2) represented Kyoto 17 times, but only six were starts, and none since May. In fact, his last outing was back in July. Like Vitor, Patrick will be a squad player — but that’s exactly what Bucheon need now. The step up in class will be enormous.

Key Player

Rodrigo Bassani 

Bassani has prior K League 1 experience after an unhappy spell at Suwon Bluewings. That 2023 season ended in relegation, but he briefly gave Suwon hope by scoring the winner away to FC Seoul in the penultimate round. It ultimately proved futile, and Bassani departed soon after for Bucheon. He now returns to the top flight a very different player.

At 28, Bassani is in the prime of his career. He captained Bucheon throughout the season, underlining his leadership and importance. The club’s focal point, he thrives on responsibility. While his left foot remains the best in the league — making him deadly from set pieces — he has also evolved into a consistent goal threat from open play. His playoff performance against Suwon FC, particularly in the second leg, was a masterclass that should be compulsory viewing for young players nationwide.

Will Kim Kyu-min get to shine in K League 1?

Local lad Kim Kyu-min takes over from Park Hyun-bin as the young player to watch. The 22-year-old winger saw plenty of action last season, playing 30 times and scoring his only goal in a vital 1–0 away win over Ansan Greeners. If you want to know how highly the club rate him, consider that he started matches on the left wing against both Incheon United and Suwon Bluewings last term. The right-footed winger usually plays on the left flank, using his pace to beat defenders before cutting inside onto his favoured right foot.

This is arguably the best season ever to be promoted to K League 1. Structural changes at the end of the campaign — most notably the expansion from 12 to 14 teams — mean Bucheon cannot be automatically relegated. Only Gimcheon Sangmu are guaranteed to go down, regardless of their finish, due to the expiry of their agreement with Gimcheon City. Even a 12th-place finish would still offer Bucheon a playoff lifeline.

As a result, some pressure is eased. That said, the club will want to make an immediate impression and secure survival early, much like Anyang did in 2025. Another small-budget, city-owned club enjoying top-flight football for the first time, Anyang relied on smart recruitment and an experienced squad. For Bucheon, the priority is clear: turn Bucheon Stadium into a fortress. Two temporary pitchside stands have already been installed, and full houses should follow.

Maximising points at home and grinding out draws against fellow strugglers will go a long way toward survival. But Bucheon should also allow themselves to dream. Anyang beat defending champions Ulsan HD away on opening day, took four points from FC Seoul, and thrashed Gimcheon Sangmu in October. If Bucheon can replicate even part of that, they will more than justify their place.

Reason to Watch

For consecutive seasons, K League 1 welcomes a brand-new club. Yet Bucheon’s history adds extra spice. Yukong Elephants, later Bucheon SK, once played in the top flight before abruptly relocating to Jeju in early 2006. Bucheon fans understandably still resent Jeju, in a saga eerily reminiscent of the Anyang–FC Seoul split.

Meetings between the two promise intensity. Despite their size, Jeju have only been relegated once, while competitive fixtures between the clubs have been rare. Bucheon did eliminate Jeju from the 2025 Korea Cup, however, and the rematch arrives on Saturday, September 12. With both sides likely near the bottom, bragging rights — and vital points in the relegation fight — will be firmly on the line.