Hong Myung-bo, former head coach of South Korea's national football team and former president of the Korea Football Association, is undergoing intense questioning by the parliamentary sports committee to investigate allegations of mismanagement within the football association and the reasons behind South Korea's first-round elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The South Korean parliamentary sports committee conducted an inquiry today (30 Jul 2023) to examine the management of the Korea Football Association (KFA) following heavy criticism over lack of transparency and the disappointing performance of the men's football team in the 2026 World Cup.
Summoned as witnesses were Chung Mong-gyu, former KFA president who resigned earlier this July, and Hong Myung-bo, former men's national team head coach who stepped down immediately after the team’s group stage exit in June. The session was chaired by Lee Jae-jung, a Democratic Party (DP) member of parliament, representing the ruling party.
The committee emphasized that the inquiry is not solely focused on the World Cup results but aims to scrutinize the entire KFA management system, including the head coach appointment process and the long-term governance of South Korean football.
Lee Jae-jung stated that football has long brought joy and pride to South Koreans, but recently, the public has raised serious questions about the association's transparency and demands genuine organizational reform. In the 2026 World Cup, South Korea finished the group stage with one win and two losses, failing to advance to the round of 32.
Chung Mong-gyu, who served as KFA president for 13 years, apologized to the public and football fans for the national team’s performance and the controversies during his tenure. He said he had strived to develop Korean football but acknowledged that the World Cup results and other issues caused disappointment. He added he would now focus on managing his business and contributing to society.
Hong Myung-bo apologized to fans and admitted he failed to meet expectations for the team's performance. The former national coach affirmed his readiness to clarify all facts as he knows them and stated he will not evade responsibility for the outcomes.
A key issue under investigation is the process by which Hong Myung-bo was appointed head coach in 2024. Previously, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism had probed concerns that the KFA may not have followed proper selection procedures.
A member of parliament from the People Power Party noted that Hong did not undergo a formal interview but was approached by Lee Im-saeng, then technical director, during a meeting at a bakery near his home. When asked if he felt ashamed of the appointment process, Hong said he believed the association followed all steps correctly and insisted he never requested any special privileges.
Another point raised was an allegation that the KFA favored alumni from Korea University, as Chung Mong-gyu himself is a graduate of that institution.
Chung clarified that during his tenure, 25 male national team head coaches were appointed, with only one being a Korea University graduate, while over 20 female team head coaches had no ties to that university. However, he admitted the public perception was otherwise and apologized to society for the misunderstanding.
Following the World Cup failure, South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism established the K-Football Innovation Committee to study reforms in the KFA’s management system and to enhance governance in Korean football.
Co-chairing the committee are Park Ji-sung, former South Korea national team captain, and Ryu Seung-min, president of the Korean Olympic Committee and Sports Council. Ryu participated in the parliamentary inquiry as an expert, while Park did not attend this meeting.
This inquiry reflects mounting pressure on South Korean football after the national team’s underperformance and growing public calls for serious reform of the KFA’s administration to restore fan confidence and raise the level of Korean football in the future.
/sourceYonhap