After reaching the goal of promotion to K League 1 in three years, manager Leejeonghyo looked higher rather than basking in joy.
Manager Leejeonghyo skipped even a celebration for Suwon Samsung's promotion and urged players and fans to face the cold reality. He said that returning to the first division is not the end but a new beginning.
Suwon Samsung beat Yongin FC 2-0 in the Hana Bank K League 2 2026 Round 32 home match at Suwon World Cup Stadium on the 8th. With 66 points secured, Suwon confirmed promotion to K League 1 regardless of the results of the remaining two matches. They now need just 1 point to clinch the K League 2 title.
This promotion has special meaning for Suwon. After finishing last in K League 1 in the 2023 season and suffering relegation to the second division for the first time since the club's founding, they have returned to their place in just three seasons.
At the center of that was manager Leejeonghyo. He had led Gwangju FC to promotion to K League 1 and proved competitiveness on the Asian stage, and when he took the helm at Suwon this season he immediately began an intense overhaul. He stressed professional standards and mental strength across the squad and demanded urgency both on and off the pitch.
As a result, Suwon showed strong form from the start of the season. They ran off five straight league wins after the opener, taking the lead in the title race, and they maintained steady performances to secure promotion on their own power.
But manager Leejeonghyo did not let himself be carried away by the joy of promotion. Instead, he sent a message cautioning the squad and fans against excessive celebration.
After promotion, manager Leejeonghyo asked, "I hope we don't get too carried away. I also hope the fans look to higher goals. I'll work hard to meet our fans' expectations."
He emphasized that Suwon still has a long way to go rather than focusing on the immediate joy of confirmed promotion. In particular, the fact that Suwon skipped a celebration for the promotion shows Leejeonghyo's firm direction. He judged that rather than treating promotion itself as the final goal, it is more important to build competitiveness in K League 1 and restore the club's former prestige.
Manager Leejeonghyo stressed, "We see this as taking the first step. We must work diligently and steadily so that the prestigious club Suwon Samsung never falls to the second division again."
Fans are also paying attention to Leejeonghyo's message. After waiting three years for promotion they have plenty of reason to celebrate, but now what matters more is how the team performs in the first division.
Next season Suwon will again play the Super Match against FC Seoul. There is high anticipation for the revival of one of the league's signature rivalries. Yet to reclaim past glory they must show competitiveness beyond mere promotion. Suwon's new goals are to win K League 1 and the AFC Champions League.
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