South Korea’s football crisis has moved beyond the field and into the halls of parliament, with lawmakers preparing to question officials over the leadership and management of the Korea Football Association (KFA) following growing public anger over the national team’s disappointing performance and the federation’s controversial decisions.
The parliamentary hearing, scheduled by the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, will examine allegations of administrative failures within the KFA, including the process behind the appointment of national team head coach Hong Myung-bo and concerns over the organization’s decision-making structure.
The controversy reflects a broader debate in South Korea over how the country’s most popular sports organization is governed. The KFA is responsible for managing the national team, selecting coaches and shaping the long-term development of Korean football, making its decisions closely tied to national expectations surrounding the country’s performance on the global stage.
Hong, a former South Korea captain and one of the country’s most recognized football figures, has chosen to appear before lawmakers and defend his actions. He said he would not avoid questioning and would accept responsibility for his role as national team coach.
Hong is also expected to address allegations involving the use of a corporate credit card. He has denied improper use, saying expenses were made within the limits and purposes established by KFA regulations and were related to official team operations and coaching staff arrangements. He plans to provide supporting documents during the hearing.
The decision by Hong to attend has drawn attention because several other officials connected to the federation’s leadership have chosen not to appear.
Among those absent is Seo Kang-il, president of the Jeonbuk Provincial Football Association, who previously criticized reform efforts led by former South Korea national team stars Park Ji-sung and Lee Young-pyo.
Park, who played for Manchester United and captained South Korea, and Lee, a former Tottenham Hotspur defender, are members of the K-Football Innovation Committee, which was created to recommend changes to the country’s football system. Seo questioned their qualifications to lead reform discussions, arguing that playing experience alone did not provide sufficient expertise in administration, law or social issues.
Seo and other regional football officials who supported former KFA president Chung Mong-gyu during the federation’s presidential election have faced criticism after declining to attend the hearing. Some cited personal commitments, while Baek Hyun-sik, president of the Busan Metropolitan Football Association, said he could not be away for an extended period because of volunteer work caring for abandoned animals.
The officials are not legally required to attend because they were invited as reference witnesses rather than formal witnesses. However, critics argue that avoiding the hearing damages public trust, especially as South Korea faces demands for major reform following criticism of the national team’s management.
The dispute also highlights a long-running tension within South Korean football between calls for institutional reform and resistance from figures who have supported the existing leadership structure.
Lee Im-saeng, the former KFA technical director who played a central role in Hong’s appointment process, also announced that he would not attend, citing his new position with Cambodian club Nagaworld FC. Critics questioned the timing of his move, noting that he left for an overseas position shortly after the national team’s disappointing result.
The hearing will provide a public test for whether the KFA can address growing concerns over its leadership structure and decision-making process. For a football association that represents South Korea on the international stage, the questions now extend beyond coaching decisions and into how the organization is managed.
