Chung Mong-gyu Referred to Prosecutors Over 'Obstruction of Business' in Hong Myung-bo Appointment

[Anchor]

Police have forwarded former Korea Football Association (KFA) President Chung Mong-gyu to prosecutors on charges of obstruction of business. Investigators concluded that he deceived the board of directors using false documents during the process of appointing former national team head coach Hong Myung-bo. However, former coach Hong was cleared of charges.

Reporter Bae Seong-jae has the details.

[Reporter]

Police concluded that former KFA President Chung Mong-gyu improperly interfered with the National Team Strengthening Committee, which holds the authority to recommend coaches, in order to appoint the national team coach according to his own wishes.

The basis for this conclusion was the agenda materials reviewed by the KFA board of directors.

The documents stated that former Strengthening Committee Chairman Chung Hae-sung had resigned and requested the selection process for his successor, but police found that no such request was ever made.

Police also explained that the materials included false statements implying that former Technical Director Lee Im-saeng, who lacked the authority to appoint a coach, proceeded with the selection process under legitimate authority.

Based on these findings, police forwarded former President Chung, former Director Lee Im-saeng, and former Senior Vice President Kim Jung-bae to prosecutors without detention on charges of obstruction of business by deceit.

During police investigations, KFA board members reportedly stated that without those documents, the appointment process for former national team coach Hong Myung-bo would not have moved forward.

Police believe this was influenced by the intense criticism the KFA faced over procedural fairness during the appointment of the preceding coach, Jurgen Klinsmann.

[Chung Mong-gyu / Former KFA President (September 2024): "I have never unilaterally appointed coach Klinsmann, nor have I ever appointed him by personal acquaintance or instruction."] br />
Meanwhile, police stated that former coach Hong—who faced allegations of intervening in the coach selection process and receiving an excessive salary—was cleared of charges due to insufficient evidence.

Former President Chung stated, "The coach appointment at the time was legal, and there was no deception of the board," adding, "We will clear up the misunderstandings through the prosecution's investigation."

(Video Editing: Jung Sung-hoon, Design: Park Chun-woong)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.