[Anchor]

Police have forwarded former Korea Football Association (KFA) President Chung Mong-gyu to the prosecution on charges of obstruction of business. Investigators concluded that the KFA misled its board of directors with false materials regarding the appointment of former national team coach Hong Myung-bo. However, former coach Hong was cleared of charges.

Reporter Bae Seong-jae has the details.

[Reporter]

Police determined that former KFA President Chung Mong-gyu unduly interfered with the duties of 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 review agenda materials submitted to the KFA board of directors.

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

Police also explained that the materials contained false statements suggesting that former Technical Director Lee Lim-saeng, who lacked the authority to appoint coaches, had "conducted the selection process through legitimate authority."

Based on these findings, police forwarded former President Chung Mong-gyu, former Technical Director Lee Lim-saeng, and former Senior Vice President Kim Jung-bae to the prosecution without detention on charges of obstruction of business by fraudulent means.

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

Police believe that intense criticism over procedural fairness during the appointment of former coach Jürgen Klinsmann heavily influenced the actions of the KFA.

[Chung Mong-gyu / Former KFA President (September 2024): "I have never unilaterally appointed coach Klinsmann, nor have I ever personally known him and directed his appointment."]br>
Meanwhile, police stated that former coach Hong, who faced allegations of intervening in the coaching appointment process and receiving an excessive salary, was cleared due to insufficient evidence.

Former President Chung stated, "The appointment of the coach at the time was legal, and we never deceived the board of directors," adding, "We will clear up any misunderstandings through the prosecution's investigation."

Video Editing: Jung Sung-hoon | Design: Park Chun-woong