Hong Myung-bo Responds After Being Summoned to 'Football Hearing' While in the U.S.

[Anchor]

As the aftermath of the North and Central America World Cup continues, the National Assembly has decided to hold a hearing on July 22 to examine the current state of South Korean football. Former Korea Football Association (KFA) President Chung Mong-gyu and former head coach Hong Myung-bo have been selected as witnesses. Hong, who is currently staying in the United States, expressed his intention to attend, stating that he would not avoid any questions.

Reporter Pyeon Gwanghyeon has the story.

[Reporter]

During a plenary session led by the ruling party, members of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee criticized the attitudes of those responsible for the overall issues in the operation of South Korean football.

[Cho Gye-won / Democratic Party lawmaker: Key figures involved in the incident, such as former President Chung Mong-gyu, former head coach Hong Myung-bo, and former director Lee Im-saeng, are resigning one after another and fleeing abroad...]

They reached a consensus to hold a hearing regarding the Korea Football Association on July 22.

[Lee Jae-jung / Chair of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee: We intend to hold the hearing on Wednesday, July 22, at 10:00 a.m.... Are there any objections? I declare it passed.]

Thirteen individuals, including former President Chung Mong-gyu, former head coach Hong Myung-bo, and former Technical Director Lee Im-saeng, were selected as witnesses for the hearing.

Former head coach Hong Myung-bo, who left for Los Angeles in the U.S. just two days after returning to Korea, released a statement expressing his willingness to attend.

Hong apologized for causing disappointment and pain to the public and emphasized that he would not avoid any questions at the hearing.

He also dismissed rumors of "fleeing," explaining that the reason for his departure was to protect his family, whose safety had become a concern.

The Korea Football Association stated that all current executive members selected as witnesses also plan to attend.

Ten people, including K-Football Innovation Committee Chair Park Ji-sung and former National Team Committee member Park ZU HO, were selected as reference witnesses. National team captain Son Heung-min and player Hwang Hee-chan were also included on the list of reference witnesses.

Regarding the selection of active overseas-based players as reference witnesses, who are unable to attend due to their club schedules, there is growing concern that the hearing may repeat past instances of sports-related hearings that were filled with shouting and public shaming rather than uncovering the truth.

(Video reporting: Shin Dong-hwan, Video editing: Choi Hye-young, Graphics: Choi Jae-young)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.