▲ Former Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-gyu (left) answers questions from lawmakers as a witness during a parliamentary hearing on pending issues related to the KFA held by the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee on the 30th. (Photo: Yonhap News)
The National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee held a hearing on the Korea Football Association today (the 30th), where lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties harshly criticized the association for its administrative disorder and flaws.
Committee members raised suspicions regarding the selection process of former national team coach Hong Myung-bo, who appeared as a witness, as well as the opaque execution of the Cheonan Football Center construction project.
Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Lim Oh-kyung asked former KFA President Chung Mong-gyu, who appeared as a witness, "Have you ever heard the terms 'Hyundai Football Association' or 'Korea University cartel'?" She added, "Why do people say that if you are not from Korea University, you cannot even set foot in the association as a president or a coach?"
In response, Chung said, "Among the 25 men's national team coaches I appointed, only one is from Korea University, and none of the roughly 20 women's national team coaches are from Korea University," while adding, "I feel apologetic that such an image has been created."
Lawmaker Noh Jong-min of the same party pressed issues concerning the construction of a mini stadium built within the Cheonan Korea Football Park.
Noh pointed out, "For a project poured with 7.7 billion won in government subsidies, the association presented blueprints that omitted office spaces such as executive rooms or the president's office," explaining that "this was because government funds cannot be given to build offices for a specific sports organization."
Noh criticized, "However, at the time of architectural approval, permission was granted to build a president's office, general secretary's office, executive offices, and a secretariat," adding, "The blueprints in the business plan and the blueprints at the time of receiving architectural approval differ in both structure and purpose."
People Power Party lawmaker Jung Yeon-wook argued that there are problems with former President Chung maintaining international posts—such as deputy chairman of the FIFA Commercial and Marketing Committee, AFC Executive Committee member, and deputy chairman of the standing Member Associations Committee—even after stepping down from his domestic presidency.
Jung stated, "It needs to be clearly resolved whether former President Chung remaining on the international stage is an asset to South Korean football diplomacy or an incomplete exit."
In response, Chung stated, "Now that I have resigned as association president, I am not clinging to positions," and added, "Once a new president is elected and a new executive body is formed, I will follow their decision."
Lawmaker Bae Hyun-jin of the same party repeatedly criticized the selection process of former coach Hong.
Bae said, "Back in 2024, former Technical Director Lee Im-saeng, who had no authority to recommend a coach, met him at 11 p.m. as if having an interview at a bakery, and he was appointed coach without a separate interview or presentation," adding, "This sparked controversy over preferential treatment that ignored customs and procedures."
She then asked, "Didn't you think it was shameful for juniors and football figures to see that someone could become a coach through a 'bakery interview'?"
In response, Hong emphasized, "When the coaching offer came to me, I thought it went through normal procedures," adding, "While I understand that the public might think it is 'opaque,' I have never requested any special favors or benefits."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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