Korean Sport & Olympic Committee Expands Electoral College by 41 Times; Football Association Election Reform Expected

[Anchor]

The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) has amended its articles of association to significantly expand its electoral college for the presidential election. Approximately 92,000 people are expected to cast their votes, a 41-fold increase from the previous number, which is also expected to impact the election of the new Korea Football Association (KFA) president.

Reporter Lee Jeong-Chan has the story.

[Reporter]

The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee held an extraordinary general assembly of delegates and unanimously approved an amendment to its articles of association to drastically increase the size of the presidential electoral college.

According to the amendment, all executives, referees, and coaches, as well as athletes who meet the eligibility and activity criteria, will be granted the right to vote in the presidential election.

The KSOC explains that this will enhance democracy and representation, as the number of voters will increase to approximately 92,000—a 41-fold increase from the previous system where about 2,200 people were selected by lottery to vote.

[Interview: Yoo Seung-min / Member of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee: "I am confident that this will lead to a sports community that is more fair, transparent, and diverse, with the field itself at the center."]

The sports organizations under the KSOC have been instructed to improve their respective systems based on this amendment and apply them to elections held from 2028 onwards. However, the committee has left the door open for the Korea Football Association, which is under significant public scrutiny, to change its voting method immediately.

The K-Football Innovation Committee, co-chaired by Yoo Seung-min of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, has already announced that it will urgently push for measures to extend the deadline for the KFA presidential by-election and significantly expand the electoral college.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly hearing on the Korea Football Association, originally scheduled for the 22nd, has been postponed to the 30th.

(Video reporting: Yang Doo-won, Video editing: Hwang Ji-young, Design: Han Song-yeon)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.