[Exclusive] Jeong Jong-sun "Even the Football Association involved in fabricating sexual violence... Expelled me and changed the bylaws"

Exclusive Interview with Former High School Football Federation President Jeong Jong-seon Cleared of Sexual Assault Charges
Football Officials Allegedly Fabricated Sexual Assault Case
Acquitted of Sexual Assault Due to 'Lack of Evidence' in First and Second Trials
Association Enacted 'No Candidacy for Presidents Over 70' Rule After Jeong's Expulsion
Suspicion of Preemptive Blocking of Candidacy by Football Figures Including Cha Bum-geun

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Former High School Football Federation President Jeong Jong-seon will appear in court again on the 4th. This is because the third hearing of the nullification lawsuit he filed against the 'permanent expulsion' disciplinary action imposed by the Korea Football Association will be held at the Seoul Central District Court. The association permanently expelled Jeong from the football community in August 2019 after media reports about his sexual violence case surfaced. The trial has progressed considerably, and the verdict is expected to be announced as early as this month.

Jeong, who met with our reporter at an undisclosed location in Seoul, said, "I plan to file consecutive damages lawsuits going forward." This marks the beginning of his counterattack. He was acquitted of the sexual violence charges he faced for four years on the 16th of last month. The Seoul High Court ruled, as in the first trial, that Jeong was not guilty of charges including quasi-rape and forced molestation. Only the embezzlement charge related to receiving large sums of money from parents during his tenure as coach at Seoul Eonnam High School was acknowledged, resulting in a sentence of one year in prison with a two-year probation. Jeong said, "There is some room for dispute regarding the embezzlement charge." He plans to appeal to the Supreme Court for a final ruling on this matter. Since both the first and second trials acquitted him of sexual violence charges, the same verdict is expected in the appeal trial.

Jeong reflected, "It felt like a cancerous tumor was removed," adding, "The sexual violence allegations were a shock to my family and a sudden disaster that made it impossible for me to live in this country anymore." The reason the first and second trials acquitted Jeong of the sexual violence charges was "lack of evidence." The person claiming to be the victim repeatedly changed their testimony about the sexual harassment during police investigations and the trial. Ultimately, the court stated in its ruling that "the core parts of the victim's account differed." Jeong emphasized, "There was no sexual assault at the heart of this case," and said, "They tried to fabricate the story from the beginning and lied in court."

Rejected Illegal Admission Proposal, Then Accused of Sexual Harassment... Federation Executives United Against Him

According to Jeong's explanation and compiled materials, the incident began at the end of 2018. Jeong, who was also the coach of Seoul Eonnam High School, received an illegal admission proposal from a player's parent. The player and parent were distant relatives of Kim, the president of the Youth Football Federation at the time. Jeong rejected the proposal. Upon hearing this, President Kim reacted strongly and gathered close football figures to orchestrate a plan to remove Jeong. The player's parent recruited a parent to play the role of the sexual harassment victim. This parent had a son who briefly played football at Eonnam High School in early 2016. Lee, the vice president of Guro-gu Sports Council, who held resentment after losing to Jeong's close associate Choi Jae-ik, president of the Seoul Football Association, in the presidential election, also joined in.

Many directors of the High School Federation also joined. These directors had long envied Jeong because after his inauguration, he emphasized transparent management of the player lists selected annually for international competitions. Previously, directors who put players' names on international competition lists in exchange for bribes saw Jeong as a thorn in their side.

In February 2019, they reported Jeong to the police on charges including embezzlement of sponsorship fees, and in June 2019, a parent claimed that Jeong had forcibly molested them, adding sexual violence charges. However, after police investigations and the trial resulted in acquittal, those involved in orchestrating the case apologized to Jeong. Youth Federation President Kim and the parent who proposed the illegal admission apologized to Jeong on the 15th of last month, a day before the second trial verdict. On July 9, 2020, when Jeong was released on bail, Director Jang, who also served as the technical director of the High School Federation, visited and said, "I'm sorry." A few days later, Director Jang took his own life. Jeong said, "I have forgiven everyone and consider it all in the past," but added, "I feel troubled because I think Director Jang left this world because I forgave him."

Text messages received by Lee Mo, vice president of Guro-gu Sports Council, at the time of the fabrication of the sexual violence case involving Jeong Jong-sun, former president of the High School Football Federation. Suspected circumstances of fabricating sexual violence testimony.
[Photo by Jeong Jong-sun, former president]

Soccer officials gathered at an undisclosed location in Seoul for a dinner during the fabrication of the sexual assault case involving Jeong Jong-sun, former president of the High School Soccer Federation. This photo was also submitted as evidence in the trial of former President Jeong.
[Photo by Jeong Jong-sun, former president]

Football Association Also Involved... Suspicion of Bylaw Amendment After Permanent Expulsion

Jeong claimed, "Officials from the Football Association's Fairness Committee were also involved in the case." The Fairness Committee of the Football Association is the body that permanently expelled Jeong. The process was carried out somewhat unreasonably, raising suspicions. Jeong went for his first police investigation on sexual violence charges on June 13, 2019, but the Football Association held the Fairness Committee meeting that day without considering this. As a result, Jeong was permanently expelled two months later without a proper opportunity to present his defense. Jeong appealed this decision and requested a retrial from the Korea Sports Council's Sports Fairness Committee, but it was dismissed in November 2019, confirming the permanent expulsion.

Regarding the background for the association's haste in disciplining him, Jeong claimed, "It was probably because of the bylaw amendment." Jeong can attend the association's general assembly and exercise voting rights when bylaws are amended. The Fairness Committee hurried the disciplinary action to strip Jeong, who was usually at odds with the association, of his voting rights.

Article 32-2, Paragraph 2 of the Korea Football Association's Articles of Incorporation, which is causing controversy
[Photo by Korea Football Association website capture]

In fact, after Jeong was permanently expelled, the association amended the bylaws on January 29, 2020, and September 22, 2020. Jeong pointed to Article 23-2, which regulates 'registration of presidential election candidates.' This article was newly created on September 22, 2020. Article 32-2, Paragraph 2 states, "Presidential election candidates must be under 70 years old on the election day." This prevents individuals over 70 from running for president.

Jeong and football figures suspect this was a preemptive move to block certain individuals from running for president. This contrasts with baseball, where KBO Commissioner Hur Koo-yeon (71) took office. Due to this clause, some football figures like former coach Cha Bum-kun (69) cannot even submit their candidacy for the presidential election. When current president Chung Mong-gyu's term ends in January 2025, Cha will be 72 and thus ineligible to run. Jeong said, "If the association people are the ruling party, I am effectively the opposition," adding, "The association probably hurried this clause because they feared I would oppose it."