South Korean police on 6/8 raided the Korea Football Association (KFA) headquarters in Cheonan, about 90 km south of Seoul, along with the KFA House building in the capital's center. The raids aimed to collect documents related to suspicions that federation officials acted improperly in the 7/2024 appointment of Hong Myung-bo as head coach of the national team.
The investigation gained renewed attention after the South Korean team was eliminated from the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, sparking widespread public outrage directed at Hong and the KFA. Although initial suspicions arose shortly after Hong's appointment, the preliminary investigation had seen little progress for nearly two years.
South Korea had a promising start at the World Cup, defeating the Czech Republic by a score of two-one. However, opposing coaches soon "figured out" Hong's unchanging tactics, leading to counter-strategies. South Korea subsequently lost two matches, both by a score of zero-one, against Mexico and South Africa.
Coach Hong resigned at the end of June, and Chung Mong-gyu, then KFA president, also stepped down from his position. Both testified before the South Korean National Assembly at the end of July regarding KFA's management and the head coach appointment process.
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The former head coach of the South Korean men's national football team testifies before the National Assembly on 30/7. Photo: AP |
The former head coach of the South Korean men's national football team testifies before the National Assembly on 30/7. Photo: AP
Police questioned Hong as a suspect on 4/8. Investigators are continuing to clarify whether KFA leaders, including former president Chung and former technical director Lee Lim-saeng, improperly interfered in the coach selection process.
Lee, who lacked the authority to decide on the head coach's appointment, reportedly invited Hong directly to take the job during a meeting at a bakery near his home.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism concluded in 2024 that the meeting between Lee and Hong could not be considered a formal interview. The ministry also stated that the KFA had violated its own recruitment regulations, though it did not conclude that this constituted a legal violation.
"When I received the offer, I believed all necessary procedures had been followed. People may perceive the process as lacking transparency, but I never requested any special favors," Hong asserted during his parliamentary hearing.
A social organization previously filed a complaint against Hong and Chung Mong-gyu, alleging obstruction of official duties, breach of trust, coercion, and threats related to the appointment process.
Hong captained the South Korean team at the 2002 World Cup, when the team reached the semifinals on home soil with Japan. He also served as head coach at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil but resigned after the team's elimination in the group stage.
Thanh Danh (According to AP, Yonhap)
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