Former National Team Coach Hong Myung-bo Refutes Corporate Card Allegations

Former national football team coach Hong Myung-bo has refuted media reports alleging the inappropriate use of corporate cards, stating that he "used them strictly within the designated purposes and limits set by the Korea Football Association."

In a statement released yesterday regarding the JTBC corporate card reports, Hong stated, "JTBC reported that during my tenure as national team coach, I used approximately 14 million won on corporate cards over a span of two years at a restaurant in Bundang-gu, where my home is located. However, some parts of the report are factually incorrect, and I would like to clarify them."

Earlier, JTBC pointed out issues with Hong's corporate card usage in a report claiming that "former Coach Hong charged 14.08 million won on his corporate card near his home."

In response, Hong asserted, "I used it only within the designated purposes and limits according to the Korea Football Association regulations. All usage details were documented and settled with the association." He added, "During my tenure, I have never once received a pointing out or a request for correction regarding inappropriate corporate card usage."

Regarding the report that he "used corporate cards for 31 transactions on public holidays over the past two years," he explained, "One of the primary duties of the national team coach and coaching staff is to directly check K League players. Most K League matches are held on weekends and public holidays. It is standard practice for the coaching staff to visit stadiums on weekends and public holidays to observe and inspect players and hold meetings."

He added, "Over the past two years, the national team selection roster was announced on Mondays in most cases, and weekend meetings right before finalizing the roster were essential. The use of corporate cards on weekends or public holidays consisted of meals for the coaching staff and business execution expenses incurred during the performance of national team duties."

Regarding the "14.08 million won charged to corporate cards in Bundang-gu," Hong explained, "All foreign coaches of the national team resided in Bundang-gu. The national team coaching staff used a shared office located in Bundang-gu for meetings and work, and meals also took place within Bundang-gu."

"The national team was summoned twice last year to a hotel located in Jeongja-dong, Bundang-gu. That hotel was used as the accommodation for the squad for the 2025 EAFF E-1 Championship and the North and Central America World Cup Asian third-round qualifying match against Jordan held in Yongin, Suwon, and other areas," he argued, adding, "The use of corporate cards in Bundang-gu was not personal consumption, but rather the result of concentrated business expenditures arising from the residence of the foreign coaching staff and the summoning and operation of the national team."

Regarding the "use of corporate cards at a Korean beef restaurant, a Chinese restaurant, and a gukbap (rice soup) restaurant," he emphasized, "In the case of the Korean beef restaurant and the Chinese restaurant, I used my personal card when visiting privately. As confirmed after the report, the amount spent using personal cards at these restaurants over the past two years was almost identical to the corporate card amount. This can be proven through card statements."

Hong added, "My personal card usage was even higher at the gukbap restaurant. Contrary to what was reported, I have never eaten alone at the gukbap restaurant using a corporate card. This can be verified through the corporate card settlement amounts."

He also explained that the Chinese restaurant was located about a one-minute walk (50 meters) from the shared office meeting room in Pangyo-dong, Bundang-gu, where the national team coaching staff held meetings, and was continuously used because it had private rooms suitable for holding meetings and dining together.

Hong stated, "It is very regrettable that this report interpreted business-related use as personal simply because it was close to my home, without considering the working environment of the national team and the residential environment of the coaching staff," adding, "I plan to prepare evidentiary materials so that I can explain them at the hearing."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.