The effect of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's heavy disciplinary action against former Korea Football Association (KFA) President Chung Mong-gyu has been suspended until a ruling is reached in the second trial of the primary lawsuit seeking the cancellation of the disposition.

The Supreme Court's First Division (Presiding Justice Shin Sook-hee) dismissed on October 2 an appeal filed by the ministry challenging the Seoul High Court's decision to suspend the execution of the "notification of specific audit results and demand for measures."

Consequently, the effect of the specific audit results and demand for measures that the ministry notified to the KFA in November 2024 will remain suspended until 30 days after the date of the sentencing of the second trial in the primary administrative lawsuit to cancel the disposition.

In November 2024, the ministry announced the results of its audit of the KFA and demanded heavy disciplinary action, such as "suspension of qualification or higher," against key figures including former President Chung Mong-gyu.

After the KFA's objection was rejected by the ministry, the association filed an administrative lawsuit in January of last year seeking to nullify the ministry's disposition, along with an application for a stay of execution.

The court accepted the request for a stay of execution, enabling former President Chung to run for a fourth consecutive term, and he was elected with overwhelming support in February of last year.

However, the KFA lost the first trial of the administrative lawsuit in April of last year.

The Seoul Administrative Court ruled that the ministry's demand for heavy disciplinary action was neither unjust nor unlawful, concluding that it fell within the scope of discretionary power.

In response, the KFA appealed the first-instance ruling and once again applied for a stay of execution.

The Seoul High Court, which reviewed the stay of execution case, accepted the application, stating, "There is a concern that the applicant will suffer irreparable damage due to the disposition notifying the specific audit results and demanding measures, and there is an urgent need to suspend the effect of the disposition to prevent this."

The ministry appealed once more, but the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal without review, finalizing the suspension of the disposition's effect.

Meanwhile, former President Chung submitted his resignation on July 6 and stepped down as the head of the KFA after about 13 years and 5 months.

The first hearing for the second trial of the primary lawsuit to cancel the ministry's disposition is scheduled for December 3.