Lead
SEOUL – Former Korea Football Association (KFA) president Chung Mong-gyu and former national team head coach Hong Myung-bo were grilled by lawmakers during a parliamentary hearing on Thursday, as the National Assembly's committee on sports sought answers on the association's opaque management and South Korea's early elimination from the FIFA World Cup. The hearing, chaired by Rep. Lee Jae-jung of the ruling Democratic Party (DP), reviewed suspicions against the KFA and explored ideas for reforming football governance.
Coverage Comparison
Several reports from Yonhap News Agency focused on the accountability aspect of the hearing, describing how lawmakers demanded answers on opaque management and the reasons for the national team's group-stage exit. One report highlighted Chairman Lee's opening remarks, who noted that “a lot of suspicions have been raised regarding the coaching hiring process and transparency at the KFA,” and emphasized the hearing was not just to quibble over poor performance but to review broader governance concerns. Another report from Yonhap took a briefing angle, simply stating that the former federation chief and ex-coach were among witnesses called to testify, without emphasizing a particular scandal or controversy.
A separate Yonhap report delved into the reaction of Hong Myung-bo, who responded to criticism by urging critics to engage in fixing problems rather than staying on social media. That report framed his comments as a response to persistent criticism from former players, journalists, and pundits on YouTube and other platforms.
Key Claims
The most prominent claim from the hearing involved a text exchange between opposition lawmaker Rep. Yun Yong-keun of the People Power Party (PPP) and Chung Mong-gyu. According to Yonhap, Yun sent a text to Chung saying, “Mr. President, I got a call from Mr. Chung yesterday. I should have been more considerate. I apologize.” Chung replied, “Thank you for your consideration. I will see you in a different setting, not an occasion such as this. From Chung Mong-gyu.”
The text exchange, photographed by a local daily and circulated to other outlets, prompted committee chairman Lee to ask Chung whether he had tried to lobby committee members before the hearing. Chung apologized, saying, “I cannot disclose that because it is a private matter. I do think the text was inappropriate because it could cause misunderstanding during the hearing. I would like to apologize to the people, and I have never asked for any special favor regarding this session.”
Yun contended that the exchange had no bearing on the proceedings, stating, “I don't believe this affected my questions. I asked all the questions that I had prepared, and I don't understand why this text should be a problem.”
During the hearing, Chung also apologized for South Korea's poor showing at the World Cup, where the team posted one win and two losses in Group A play. He said, “During my time at the KFA, I tried my best to ensure development for Korean football. I would like to apologize for a series of controversial issues and for the inadequate…,” before his remarks were cut off in the report.
Hong Myung-bo, who resigned as head coach following the World Cup exit, also apologized for not living up to fans' expectations. In a 12-hour session, he was asked about his hiring process and tactical decisions. Toward the end, he responded to criticism by saying, “The KFA should not take such criticism lightly. If people are aware of problems at the KFA, then they should join the scene and try to set up a system where they can make changes themselves.” He added that the system “will not change so easily unless everyone in the football community comes together.”
Perspectives
Chung Mong-gyu (former KFA president): Apologized for South Korea's poor World Cup showing and a series of controversial issues. He denied asking for any special favor regarding the hearing and defended the text exchange as a private matter, though he acknowledged it was inappropriate.
Hong Myung-bo (former head coach): Apologized for not meeting expectations but defended his record, urging critics to engage constructively rather than simply criticize from afar. He acknowledged the need for systemic change within the KFA but stressed it requires collective effort.
Rep. Yun Yong-keun (PPP lawmaker): Dismissed the text exchange as irrelevant, insisting it did not affect his questions and expressing confusion over why it became a problem.
Rep. Lee Jae-jung (DP committee chairman): Framed the hearing as a review of KFA governance and transparency, noting public concerns about the coaching hiring process and overall operations.