Rejoining his former club as their new head coach, Gwangju FC bench boss Lee Jung-kyu has set out a modest goal for the 2026 K League 1 campaign. With Gwangju having finished in the lower tier of the 12-club league in each of the past two years, Lee wants to push them back into the upper echelon of the top division. Each year, the 12 K League 1 clubs are split into two tiers after 33 matches — "Final A" for the top six clubs and "Final B" for the bottom six teams. Gwangju ranked third in 2023 but finished ninth in 2024 and then seventh last year. "I want to maintain the system that Gwangju FC have built over the years and also make sure we will take the next big step," Lee said Sunday at his introductory press conference at Gwangju World Cup Stadium in Gwangju. Lee and his team departed for Thailand on Monday to set up their offseason training camp. "Our primary objective is to get into Final A. And during training camp, we will be able to develop more specific goals for the new season," Lee added. "I think we can be a competitive club if we train and prepare with purpose." Lee, 43, ser