Did You Know? It Is Not Over Yet… Chung Mong-gyu Retains International Posts Despite Resignation

Former Korea Football Association (KFA) President Chung Mong-gyu, who stepped down from his post as the head of the national football governing body, is expected to continue his activities in the international football scene.

Chung currently serves as the vice-chairman of the FIFA Commercial and Marketing Advisory Committee and as an executive committee member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Both positions can be held regardless of whether one maintains the presidency of a national football association.

Unless he chooses to step down voluntarily, he can maintain his qualifications until the end of his guaranteed term. Even if he were to resign mid-term, there is no requirement that the vacancy must be filled by someone from the same country.

Chung, who previously served as a FIFA Council member, returned to the international football diplomatic stage in May 2024 after being elected as an AFC Executive Committee member.

The AFC Executive Committee is the highest executive body for football in Asia.

Major administrative decisions for the AFC, including the selection of host cities for various tournaments, are made by the AFC Executive Committee.

His term runs until the regular general assembly in 2027.

In October last year, Chung was appointed as the vice-chairman of the Commercial and Marketing Advisory Committee, one of the newly established standing committees of FIFA.

At the time, former national team player Park Ji-sung, current co-chairman of the K-Football Innovation Committee, was also appointed as a member of the FIFA Football Stakeholders Committee. The terms for these standing committee members are four years, lasting until 2029.

Therefore, Chung will continue to represent South Korean football on the international stage for approximately the next three years.

This has sparked criticism among football fans, who argue that it is inappropriate for Chung, who effectively left office in disgrace without completing his term, to continue representing South Korean football.

Furthermore, concerns are being raised that he may still exert influence over South Korean football even after resigning from his position as KFA president.

Chung, who took office as the 52nd president in January 2013 and succeeded in winning four consecutive terms, led the KFA for 13 years and 5 months before submitting his resignation and stepping down on July 6.

Reported by Kim Jiuk | Video by Seo Byeong-uk | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News

※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.