Pohang opened the scoring after just seven minutes as Choi Hyo-jin floated over a deep cross from the right for unmarked debutant Kim Tae-su to superbly volley home.

The lead lasted just 10 minutes as Brazilian striker Eduardo calmly converted from the penalty spot after Kwak Hee-ju had been brought down by Hwang Ji-soo inside the area.

Pohang regained the lead five minutes before the break with another well worked goal as Denilson split the defence with a fine pass for Stevica Ristic to beat Suwon goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae.

But despite having already collected a yellow card, Macedonian Ristic removed his shorts during his celebration and was dismissed.

Despite playing for 45 minutes against 10 men, Suwon were unable to find an equaliser and with five minutes remaining Denilson added a third for the visitors before Cho Yong-tae grabbed a consolation for the home side.

"We wanted to win the opening match in front of our own fans," said Suwon coach Cha Bum-keun.

"It was a disappointing game from our point of view but it is just one game and we will win many games this season and the players will have lots of opportunities to recover from this."

Elsewhere FC Seoul, who along with Pohang, Suwon and Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i will represent Korea in the Asian Champions League which starts next week, eased to a 6-1 win at Chunnam Dragons.

A free-kick from Ki Sung-yung came back off the crossbar for Adilson to head into an empty net from close range to open the scoring for Seoul before Kim Chi-woo headed home a second after just seven minutes.

Jung Jo-guk added a third from the spot on the stroke of half-time after he had been brought down.

Kim added a second after the break before Ki Sung-yung and Lee Sung-ryeol completed the scoring for Seoul before Lee Chun-soo scored an injury time free-kick consolation for Chunnam.