[Anchor]
To dismantle the established interests, or the so-called cartel, within the Korea Football Association (KFA) and achieve personnel reform, reforming the presidential election system—such as adopting a direct voting system—is essential. However, this is proving to be more difficult than expected.
Reporter Hong Seok-jun has the story.
[Reporter]
Chung Mong-gyu, who has led the KFA since 2013, succeeded in securing a fourth term last year with overwhelming support, despite receiving a recommendation for heavy disciplinary action from the government.
The current election system, which is seen as heavily favoring the established powers, is cited as the reason behind this.
The current method is an indirect election where a group of about 200 electors casts votes. About 30 percent of these electors consist of association delegates and K-League club officials, leading to constant criticism that the playing field is tilted in favor of the incumbent president.
There is growing pressure to implement a direct election system, where all members of the association can vote, to break down these established interests.
As President Chung has decided to step down after this World Cup, demands to hold the next presidential election through a direct voting system are rising, but the challenges to be addressed are significant.
First, the KFA is a member organization of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) and must follow its articles of association, which mandate an indirect election system for the heads of member organizations.
[President Lee Jae-myung: The KSOC itself uses a direct election system and has term limits, but what about the member organizations or regional bodies?]
[Yoo Seung-min / President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (last December): We originally used an indirect system, but we are revising the regulations. Starting from the KSOC presidential election in January 2029...]
The scale of the election is also a variable.
The KFA has about 150,000 members. If a direct election were held, the number of voters would be similar to that of a district mayor election in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
However, FIFA prohibits online voting on the grounds that the principle of secret ballots cannot be guaranteed.
In other words, to comply with FIFA regulations, in-person voting must be held instead of online voting. Preparing for an in-person direct election for 150,000 people would inevitably lead to a surge in costs and preparation time.
[Official from the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee: If you were to set up about 100 gymnasiums or similar venues, it could cost billions of won, so the first concern would be how to cover these expenses.]
Furthermore, FIFA strictly prohibits third-party interference, such as from the government, in elections, meaning the entire process must be handled with caution.
In June, FIFA suspended the All Nepal Football Association, banning it from participating in FIFA-sanctioned tournaments like the World Cup, citing government interference in the association's presidential election.
In short, the first step toward reform in the football community—improving the election system—requires strong will and effort from the KFA itself. Fans are increasingly concerned about whether the association, which is the very subject of the reform, can solve this initial task.
(Video Editing: Nam Il, Design: Kim Ye-ji)
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