Lee Cheonsu "Jung Monggyu Must Resign"... Senior Hwang Sunhong Also 'Targets'

Lee Criticizes Chairman Jeong, Haeseong Jeong, and Coach Hwang on YouTube
"Chairman Jeong Set Korean Football Back Over 10 Years"

Former national soccer player Lee Cheon-su criticized Chung Mong-gyu, president of the Korea Football Association (KFA), Jeong Hae-seong, head of the Strengthening Committee, and coach Hwang Sun-hong over the failure to qualify for the Olympic finals. He especially called for the resignation of President Chung, saying he bears the greatest responsibility among them.

On the 26th, Lee Cheon-su uploaded a video titled "It's time to stop and step down" on his personal YouTube channel 'Richunsu.' In the video, he raised his voice, saying, "I also participated in the Olympics, but this is really unacceptable," and "President Chung, Committee Head Jeong, and Coach Hwang must take responsibility." He went on to say, "What President Chung has done so far has dragged Korean soccer down for more than 10 years," and pointed out, "(President Chung) must resign unconditionally. He is also responsible for appointing the wrong people." Lee Cheon-su emphasized once again, "Those who destroyed the future of Korean soccer must all be removed and replaced. They have committed a great sin."

Former football player Lee Cheon-soo is urging officials of the Korea Football Association to take responsibility for qualifying for the Paris Olympics finals. [Image source=Captured from YouTube channel 'Richunsoo']

He also criticized, "Coach Hwang should not have accepted the dual role (as coach and manager). That was his own greed. He must take full responsibility for that." He added, "Even without (President Chung, Committee Head Jeong, and Coach Hwang), the association can operate," and said, "I hope there will be a big decision this time."

Recently, Lee Cheon-su served as the campaign chairman for Won Hee-ryong, the People Power Party candidate who ran in Incheon Gyeyang-eul in the April 10 general election. He explained his support for Won by saying, "I do not support any party, nor do I know politics or left and right. However, Gyeyang-eul is where I grew up, where I first started playing soccer, and where friends I played soccer with still live. It is like my hometown, and I thought that to escape from an underdeveloped area and develop, a capable and powerful worker must come."

During the election campaign, Lee Cheon-su endured many humiliations. He was insulted, assaulted, and even received threats related to his family. Although candidate Won ultimately lost, Lee showed loyalty by attending the concession speech. Afterwards, Lee stated, "I have no intention of entering politics and will return to my daily life and live diligently."

On the 26th, during the AFC U23 football match between Korea and Indonesia held in Doha, Qatar, Korean players are distressed after a missed penalty kick.
[Photo by Xinhua News Agency Yonhap News]

The Korean national soccer team drew 2-2 with Indonesia in the quarterfinals of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup held in Doha, Qatar on the 26th, but lost 10-11 in the penalty shootout, resulting in failure to qualify for the Paris Olympic finals. Until now, Korean soccer had qualified for the Olympic finals nine consecutive times since the 1988 Seoul Olympics, but the Korean national team will not be able to appear on the Olympic stage for the first time in 40 years.

Meanwhile, as the failure to qualify for the Olympic finals was confirmed, angry soccer fans flooded the Korea Football Association (KFA) bulletin board with protests. On the 26th, the KFA stated, "We sincerely apologize to soccer fans, soccer people, and the public for the failure to qualify for the Paris Olympic finals," and added, "The coaching staff and players all did their best to qualify for the 10th consecutive Olympics, but unfortunately, we did not achieve our goal." They continued, "We are well aware that the Korea Football Association, which nurtures and supports the national team, bears overall responsibility, and we once again bow our heads in apology," and added, "We will thoroughly review and improve the system for nurturing players and coaches and managing the national team to ensure that failures like today do not happen again."