In the early days of the new year, K League teams have kicked off their respective pre-seasons, each opting for unique destinations. Japan has emerged as a popular choice, drawing several K League teams, while Thailand is also a favored destination with 15 teams venturing to the Southeast Asian country. Additionally, a handful of teams are heading to Vietnam, while others have chosen the UAE and Turkey for their pre-season preparations.

A representative from FC Seoul emphasized the benefits of warm-weather training in reducing injuries throughout the season. They stated, “The number of long-term injuries in the 2023 season was lower than in any previous season.

Ulsan, having trained in Portugal the previous year, cited significant temperature differences between day and night as a factor. To address this, they plan to conduct fitness training in Ishigaki, Japan, where the weather is cool, similar to late autumn in Korea, before moving to Okinawa for full-scale training.

Defending champions Ulsan will embark on their pre-season journey, starting with Ishigaki island from January 12th to the 21st, followed by Kagoshima in Japan from January 22nd to February 4th. The team will also include training sessions in Okinawa as they gear up for the AFC Champions League Round of 16 clash with Ventforet Kofu in mid-February.

Under the guidance of new manager Park Tae-ha, Pohang Steelers initiated their pre-season at their training ground on January 3rd, continuing until January 7th. Subsequently, the Steelers will head to Hanoi, Vietnam, from January 8th to the 26th. Following a brief break at home, Pohang will move to Seogwipo city on Jeju Island from January 29th to February 9th. Similar to Ulsan, Pohang faces an AFC Champions League Round of 16 tie during pre-season, squaring off against Jeonbuk on February 13th or 14th for the first leg and February 20th or 21st for the second.