Gwangju FC sits at the bottom of the 2026 K League 1 table with just 12 points from 25 matches and a -38 goal difference, placing the side in clear danger of direct relegation or play-offs as the league prepares to split into championship and relegation groups. Gimcheon Sangmu, currently 11th with 27 points, faces automatic relegation due to its military-team status regardless of final position. The remaining bottom-six teams, including Bucheon FC 1995 on an improved run and sides clustered between 31–34 points such as Daejeon, Incheon, and Pohang, will contest the relegation round from late October onward, where recent form, head-to-head results, and home/away splits will shape outcomes ahead of any K League 2 promotion play-offs.