National football team manager Hong Myung-bo has refuted media reports alleging that he inappropriately used corporate cards, stating, "I used them strictly within the purposes and limits prescribed by the Korea Football Association regulations."

In a statement released today (June 29) regarding JTBC's corporate card reports, former Manager Hong said, "JTBC reported that during my tenure as national team manager, I used about 14 million won on corporate cards over a period of two years at a restaurant located in Bundang-gu, where my home is. However, some parts of the report are factually incorrect, and I would like to clarify them."

Previously, general programming channel JTBC pointed out issues with former Manager Hong's corporate card usage on the 28th through a report stating that he spent 14.08 million won using corporate cards near his home.

In response, Hong stated, "I used the cards only within the permitted purpose and limit in accordance with KFA regulations. All usage details were documented and settled with the association." He added, "During my tenure, I have never once received a point-out or request for correction regarding inappropriate use of corporate cards."

Addressing the report that he used corporate cards 31 times on public holidays over the past two years, he explained, "One of the primary duties of the national team manager and coaching staff is to check on Kleague players in person. K-league matches are mostly 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 evaluate players and hold meetings."

He added, "Over the past two years, the national team selection rosters were announced on Mondays in most cases, and weekend meetings right before finalizing the rosters were essential. The corporate card usage on weekends and public holidays consisted of meals for the coaching staff and operational expenses incurred in the course of performing 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 serviced office located in Bundang-gu for meetings and work, and meals also took place within Bundang-gu."

He stated, "The national team was summoned twice last year to a hotel located in Jeongja-dong, Bundang-gu. We used that hotel as accommodation for the players for the 2025 EAFF E-1 Championship and the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian third round qualifying match against Jordan, which were held in Yongin and Suwon. The corporate card usage in Bundang-gu was not personal consumption, but rather the concentration of operational expenditures resulting from the residence of the foreign coaching staff and the convening and operation of the national team."

Regarding the usage of corporate cards at a Korean beef restaurant, a Chinese restaurant, and a gukbap (soup and rice) 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 my personal card at those restaurants over the past two years was almost identical to the corporate card amount. This can be proven through card statements."

Hong added, "Personal card usage was 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 coaching staff's meeting room in the serviced office (Pangyo-dong, Bundang-gu) and had private rooms suitable for holding meetings and dining together, which is why it was used continuously.

Hong stated, "I deeply regret this report, which interprets business-related use as personal consumption simply because it was close to my home, without considering the national team's working environment and the coaching staff's living environment. I plan to prepare the evidentiary materials so that I can explain them at a hearing."

(Photo: Yonhap News)