"Damaged Korea's Image": KFA Issues Apology as International Scrutiny Mounts, Involving Japan

[Anchor]

As allegations that foreign referees were provided with sexual entertainment in the past spread widely, the Korea Football Association (KFA) has issued an apology and bowed its head. With major foreign media outlets intensely spotlighting this scandal, the reputation of South Korean football has plummeted.

Reporter Lee Jeong-Chan has the story.

[Reporter]

Following a parliamentary hearing and police raids investigating the appointment process of former national team coach Hong Myung-bo, news broke that foreign referees and match commissioners were allegedly provided with sexual entertainment during national team matches held domestically in 2011 and 2012. As trust in South Korean football has shaken uncontrollably, the KFA has bowed its head once again.

The association released an apology stating, "We have lost our inherent function of bringing joy and excitement, leaving us in a truly disastrous situation. We feel deeply sorry."

However, regarding the past misconduct controversies, the association added, "Such inappropriate behavior is absolutely not occurring at present, and we hope that the achievements and efforts made by our national team players will not be misunderstood."

Public opinion has reached a worst-case scenario, prompting the association to issue a statement unusually over the weekend.

Major European media outlets in the UK, France, and Germany have highlighted the issue, resulting in international humiliation. In particular, Japan—where its own referees were allegedly targeted in the hospitality—is monitoring the situation even more sensitively, with reports suggesting that "the Japan Football Association may need to offer an explanation."

Amid a barrage of criticism that this is "an incident that tarnished the nation's image," the association vowed to "deeply engrave the criticism and reproaches in our hearts and use this as an opportunity for reform." Nevertheless, the reputation of South Korean football—once boasting its status as an Asian football powerhouse and the legacy of its run to the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup—is in a freefall.

(Video Editing: Park Gi-deok, Design: Kim Ye-ji)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.