It has been confirmed that former Korea Football Association (KFA) President Chung Mong-gyu, who expressed his intention to step down before the opening of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup, provided 4.8 billion won in sponsorship to the KFA in the past through HDC Group affiliates where he serves as chairman.

This is known to be the largest single amount ever supported by HDC Chairman Chung Mong-gyu through HDC, sparking controversy as the massive sponsorship was made right before his bid for a fourth consecutive term as KFA president.

According to an internal KFA legal review report secured by the office of lawmaker Jin Sun-mee of the Democratic Party of Korea, HDC and HDC Hyundai Development Company signed an official partnership contract with the KFA on June 1, 2024.

The contract period is for a total of four years until May 31, 2028, with a total sponsorship amount of 4.8 billion won to be paid in eight installments.

The KFA did not disclose the specific sponsorship amount at the time of announcing the partnership contract, and this marked the first time HDC and HDC Hyundai Development Company signed an official partnership contract with the association.

Typically, candidates running for the presidency of a sports association under the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee are restricted from making donations or providing sponsorships to prevent vote-buying, but incumbent presidents are exceptionally permitted to provide sponsorships to secure smooth funding for the association.

Political circles and football fans have been criticizing the timing of this contract because June 2024, when the contract was signed, was just eight months before the end of his third term, although it was not a regulatory violation as Chung was the incumbent KFA president at the time.

Later, in the February 2025 KFA presidential election, Chung won with an overwhelming vote rate of 85.7 percent, succeeding in securing his fourth consecutive term.

Regarding the HDC Group sponsorship contract at the time, the office of lawmaker Jin Sun-mee pointed out, "It strongly resembles a preliminary step to achieve a fourth consecutive term ahead of the end of his tenure."

Reported by Kim Taewon | Video by Na Hong-hee | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News