The 2026 K League 1 season has entered its split rounds, and with it the race for the league's Most Valuable Player award has moved into full swing.
According to the Korea Professional Football League, K League 1 clubs will play the 33rd round this weekend before splitting into Final A for the top six teams and Final B for the bottom six, with each club playing five more matches.
Teams in Final A cannot finish below sixth place, while teams in Final B cannot climb above seventh even if they win all of their remaining games.
With six matches left including the split rounds, attention is turning to the players competing for this season's MVP honor. FC Seoul's Jeong Seung-won and Kim Jin-su, Ulsan HD's Lee Dong-gyeong and Gangwon FC's Kim Dae-won are each making their case with different credentials.
Seoul, on the verge of its first title in 10 years since 2016, owes its surge this season to Jeong, the driving force of its attack, and Kim, the anchor of its defense.
Jeong has appeared in every league match for Seoul this season, posting eight goals and seven assists.
His summer form was especially devastating. He swept the K League 1 Player of the Month award in both July and August, leading Seoul's charge at the top of the table. His relentless work rate, influence at both ends of the pitch and knack for decisive goals at key moments have made him the front-runner for the award.
Kim Jin-su, the captain who marshals Seoul's back line, is also a leading candidate. His attacking numbers are modest at one goal and three assists, but he is the spiritual leader of a defense that has conceded the fewest goals in the league, 28 in 32 matches.
His game management, command of the defensive line and charismatic leadership rank among the best in the league.
The player who has overcome a weaker team record through sheer individual production is Lee Dong-gyeong. Lee has compiled 23 goal contributions this season with 11 goals and 12 assists, proving himself one of the league's most productive attackers.
Lee has now reached double digits in both goals and assists for a second consecutive season. Should he win the MVP award again this year, he would become only the second player to win it in back-to-back seasons after Lee Dong-gook, who did so in 2014 and 2015.
Kim Dae-won, the ace of surprise package Gangwon FC, cannot be overlooked either. Operating from both the flanks and central areas as the starting point of Gangwon's attack, Kim has driven the team forward with precise kicking, dangerous crosses and his trademark threat down the wing.
Although his team trails FC Seoul in the standings, his contribution to keeping Gangwon in the upper tier and delivering results beyond the squad's expected level makes him a candidate capable of swaying MVP voters.
Still, unlike Jeong and Kim Jin-su, he stands to gain no title-winning premium, and his goal contributions of 10 goals and eight assists trail Lee's, leaving him a long shot.
For the K League 1 MVP award, every club submits one candidate regardless of league position. A selection committee then evaluates the submitted list and narrows it to three finalists. The winner is decided by a vote of club managers, who account for 30%, team captains, 30%, and the media, 40%.
