Kim Dong-chan curled a fantastic free-kick into the top corner midway through the first half to put Jeonbuk in front and, seven minutes before the break, Kim Jee-woong added a second with a shot from outside the area that squirmed through the hands of goalkeeper Baek Min-chol.

Thiago Quirino pulled a goal back for the hosts midway through the second-half but the visitors hung on for the three points.

"We got three points against a team that is improving," said Jeonbuk coach Choi Kang-hee.

"I told my players to focus, but still the game was more difficult than I expected."

Jeonbuk moved above Suwon Bluewings who missed the chance to close within a point of Pohang after losing 2-1 at home to Gyeongnam FC.

Two goals in three second-half minutes did the damage. Just five minutes after the restart, Han Kyong-in fired through the legs of goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryeong and soon after Kim In-hwan mis-hit Kim Yong-woo's cross but was relieved to see the ball bobble over the Suwon line.

With 25 minutes remaining, Lee Yong-ki slid the ball into his own net to give Suwon hope but the hosts could not find another goal.

FC Seoul's struggles continued as the champions lost again, this time 1-0 at Gwangju FC. Brazilian striker Joao Paulo curled home a fine shot from outside the area to win the game.

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma are also struggling after they lost 2-1 at Jeju United. Park Hyun-beom put Jeju ahead after 10 minutes and Bae Il-hwan sealed the win with 12 minutes remaining. Namkung Do grabbed a late consolation from the spot for the Asian Champions League holders.

Finally, Busan I'Park picked up a first win of the season by defeating Daejeon Citizen 3-1. Daejeon's Han Jae-woong cancelled out the early opener from Han Ji-ho but second-half goals from Kim Han-yoon and Han Sang-woon won the game for Busan.