▲ Former Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-gyu
The enforcement of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's heavy disciplinary action against former Korea Football Association (KFA) President Chung Mong-gyu has been suspended until a ruling is reached in the second trial of the primary lawsuit seeking to cancel the disciplinary measure.
On October 2, Division 1 of the Supreme Court (Presiding Justice Shin Sook-hee) dismissed an appeal filed by the ministry challenging the Seoul High Court's decision to suspend the execution of its "notice of specific audit results and request for measures," doing so without further examination.
Following the Supreme Court's ruling, the effect of the specific audit results and requests for measures sent by the ministry to the KFA in November 2024 will remain suspended until 30 days after the date the second-trial verdict is pronounced in the primary administrative lawsuit to nullify the disciplinary action.
In November 2024, the ministry announced the results of its audit into the KFA and demanded heavy disciplinary action, such as "suspension of qualifications or higher," against key figures including former President Chung Mong-gyu.
After the KFA's appeal for reconsideration was rejected by the ministry, the association filed an administrative lawsuit in January of last year seeking the cancellation of the ministry's measure, alongside an application for a stay of execution.
The court accepted the stay application, allowing former President Chung to run for a fourth consecutive term, and he was elected with overwhelming support in February of last year.
However, the KFA lost the first trial of the administrative lawsuit in April of last year.
The Seoul Administrative Court concluded that the ministry's demand for disciplinary measures was neither unfair nor illegal, judging that it fell within the scope of discretionary authority.
In response, the KFA appealed the first-instance ruling and once again filed for a stay of execution.
The Seoul High Court, which reviewed the stay application, accepted it by stating, "There is a risk that the applicant will suffer irreparable damage due to the disposition notifying the specific audit results and requesting measures, and there is an urgent need to suspend the effect of the disposition to prevent this."
Although the ministry filed another appeal, the Supreme Court dismissed it without further review, finalizing the suspension of the measure's effect.
Meanwhile, former President Chung submitted his resignation on July 6 and stepped down as head of the KFA after approximately 13 years and 5 months.
The first hearing for the second trial of the primary lawsuit to cancel the ministry's measure is scheduled for December 3.
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