Best Defensive players by Season Rating in K League 1 2026

The best defensive players in K League 1 in 2026, ranked on Field Insider.

Best defensive goalkeepers in K League 1 Best defensive defenders in K League 1 Best defensive midfielders in K League 1 Best defensive attackers in K League 1 Best players in K League 1 Most in-form players in K League 1

At a glance

Kang Sang-Yoon of Jeonbuk Motors is the standout for raw talent across players in K League 1, with a Field Insider Rating of 47.8, and Park Cheong-Hyo has been the form player this season, grading 35.4, and Cesinha leads the scoring with 8 goals.

The numbers a scout watches are the year-on-year jumps: Park Cheong-Hyo has improved his Season rating most, up +31.5 on last season, while M. Dackers's scouting Rating has risen fastest, +9.7 over the same span. Those are the players whose trajectory is bending upward fastest.

By our market-value index, Jin Si-Woo of Gwangju FC is the most valuable name in this group at 13.5.

Best talent

Kang Sang-Yoon47.8RTG

Jeonbuk Motors

In form

Park Cheong-Hyo35.4SsN

Gangwon FC

Rising potential

M. Dackers+9.7RTG

Daegu FC · 24/25→25/26

Most improved

Park Cheong-Hyo+31.5SsN

Gangwon FC · 24/25→25/26

34 players · ranked by best defendersCustomise →

	Player	Team
1	Kang Joon-Hyuck Full-back	Gangwon FC	26	29.2	2977%	4010.6%
2	Song Jun-Seok Centre-back	Gimcheon Sangmu FC	25	26.2	266.5%	458.5%
3	Kim Young-Bin Full-back	Jeonbuk Motors	34	25.9	26153.9%	1435.6%
4	M. Tuci Centre-back	Gangwon FC	27	25.6	2649.7%	367.1%
5	Choi Jun Full-back	FC Seoul	27	23.8	2450.6%	3815.9%
6	Choi Woo-Jin Full-back	Jeonbuk Motors	22	22.7	23	47
7	Kim Jin-Su Centre-back	FC Seoul	34	22.5	2331.6%	136%
8	Juan Antonio Centre-back	FC Seoul	30	22.4	2228.2%	2625.5%
9	D. Bakker Centre-back	FC Anyang	31	22.4	2259%	405.7%
10	Jin Si-Woo Centre-back	Gwangju FC	24	20.1	20±0%	406.3%
11	Kim Tae-Hwan Centre-back	Jeonbuk Motors	37	19.7	2020.9%	88%
12	Jo Seong-Kwon Centre-back	Daejeon Citizen	25	19.7	209.4%	425.7%
13	J. Célestine Full-back	Jeju United FC	29	19.3	19171.8%	3061.2%
14	Yazan Al Arab Full-back	FC Seoul	30	18.8	195%	256.4%
15	Yu In-Soo Centre-back	Jeju United FC	31	17.4	1765.7%	2110%
16	Hong Sung-Wook Full-back	Bucheon FC 1995	23	17.4	1717300%	4513.5%
17	Eo Jeong-Won Full-back	Pohang Steelers	27	16.7	173.5%	360.8%
18	Kim Tae-Hwan Centre-back	Gimcheon Sangmu FC	26	15.9	16318.4%	386.8%
19	Kim Ryun-Seong Full-back	Jeju United FC	24	15.9	1626.2%	46±0%
20	Park Chan-Yong Centre-back	Pohang Steelers	30	13.1	1315.9%	256.5%
21	Kim Moon-Hwan Full-back	Daejeon Citizen	31	12.9	1338.7%	20±0%
22	Kim Kang-San Centre-back	Daegu FC	27	12.1	124.3%	3513.9%
23	Lee Jung-Taek Full-back	Gimcheon Sangmu FC	28	12.1	124%	311%
24	Baek Dong-Gyu Centre-back	Bucheon FC 1995	35	11.6	1275.8%	1164.3%
25	Park Cheol-Woo Full-back	Gimcheon Sangmu FC	28	11.5	1264.3%	301.3%
26	Lee Hyun-Yong Centre-back	Suwon City FC	22	10	10212.5%	457%
27	Lee Jae-Ik Centre-back	Ulsan Hyundai FC	27	9.7	10162.2%	3716.4%
28	Derlan Centre-back	Suwon City FC	30	9.4	930.6%	1964.7%
29	Cho Hyun-Taek Full-back	Ulsan Hyundai FC	25	8	827%	4510.3%
30	Lee Yong Full-back	Suwon City FC	39	7	756%	652.5%
31	Lee Si-Young Centre-back	Suwon City FC	29	6.3	6800%	2724.2%
32	Oh In-Pyo Full-back	FC Seoul	29	6.2	6	293.3%
33	Lee Zi-Sol Centre-back	Suwon City FC	27	5.8	6123.1%	3415%
34	Cho Wi-Je Centre-back	Jeonbuk Motors	25	0	0	463.4%