"Legal Action Against Park Ju-ho? Speechless"... Jo Won-hee Also Targets Football Association

Football Association Faces Criticism After Appointing Coach Hong Myung-bo
Jo Won-hee Joins Park Ji-sung and Lee Dong-gook in Criticizing Football Association's Actions

Former national football players including Lee Young-pyo, Lee Chun-soo, Park Ji-sung, and Lee Dong-gook have consecutively criticized the Korea Football Association (KFA) regarding the selection process of the national team coach, and former national team player and YouTuber Cho Won-hee also expressed disappointment with the KFA's actions. On the 14th, Cho Won-hee stated on his YouTube channel board, "It has been a chaotic five months for Korean football," adding, "As a football person and someone who loves Korean football, I honestly feel very saddened."

Former national football players Lee Young-pyo, Lee Chun-soo, Park Ji-sung, and Lee Dong-gook have consecutively criticized the Korea Football Association regarding the national team coach selection process, and former national team player and YouTuber Cho Won-hee also expressed disappointment with the association's actions.
[Photo source=YouTube channel 'Igeohaejo Wonhee-hyung']

He continued, "Upon hearing about the process of appointing the head coach of the South Korean national football team and the KFA's legal response to player Park Joo-ho, I was at a loss for words," and "All the voices of support have been completely drowned out." He added, "I believe it is necessary to provide accurate and clear answers to the many questions people have about this situation. I deeply hope that a more correct decision will be made so that we can passionately support and cheer for Korean football."

Lee Young-pyo, Lee Chun-soo, Park Ji-sung, Lee Dong-gook Also Criticize the KFA

On the 10th, at the Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium where the 2024 Hana Bank K League 1 match between Ulsan HD and Gwangju FC is held, banners criticizing Ulsan coach Hong Myung-bo, who has been appointed as the national football team manager, and supporting commentator Park Joo-ho are displayed respectively.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Earlier on the 7th, the Korea Football Association announced the appointment of Hong Myung-bo, head coach of Ulsan Hyundai FC in the K League 1, as the next national football team coach. This came five months after the dismissal of German coach J?rgen Klinsmann. With this, Hong Myung-bo returns as the national team head coach for the first time in 10 years since leading the team at the 2013-2014 Brazil World Cup. In this context, former national team fullback Park Joo-ho, who served as a member of the KFA’s National Team Strengthening Committee, recently posted a video on his YouTube channel exposing and criticizing the process. He claimed that the appointment of Hong Myung-bo, who was leading Ulsan Hyundai FC, as the national team head coach did not follow proper procedures, and that some members of the Strengthening Committee pushed to appoint a domestic coach over a foreign one.

In response to Park Joo-ho’s remarks, the KFA stated that Park violated a confidentiality agreement and decided to consider legal action. It is known that Park recommended coaches who were final candidates, such as Canadian national team coach John Herdman and former Norwich City (England) coach David Wagner, by leveraging his personal network.

Meanwhile, senior football figures with European football experience, including commentator Lee Young-pyo, Jeonbuk Hyundai technical director Park Ji-sung, and former KFA vice president Lee Dong-gook, supported Park Joo-ho and sharply criticized the KFA. On the 13th, Lee Dong-gook said about the KFA, "One word strikes my mind: legal action," adding, "This is not a word to use against someone (Park Joo-ho) who has worked harder than anyone else. I believe everyone should take responsibility for the loss of trust in the KFA, and it is time for change."

Legend of Korean football Park Ji-sung, director of Jeonbuk Hyundai, also expressed on the 12th, "As a football person, I felt a sense of responsibility and decided to speak out publicly," describing the series of events surrounding coach Hong Myung-bo's appointment as the national team manager as "sad."
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the 12th, Korean football legend and Jeonbuk Hyundai director Park Ji-sung also expressed his responsibility as a football person by making a public statement, describing the series of events surrounding Hong Myung-bo’s appointment as the national team head coach as "sad." Park Ji-sung said, "It pains me deeply that there is no clear answer to anything," and "Since the 2002 World Cup, Korean football has changed a lot, and there was hope for further change, but receiving this kind of response is indescribably disheartening." He also insisted on the need for a clear explanation regarding the doubts about the coach selection process.

He added, "Working at the association has now become something no one wants to do," and "Regardless of the outcome, the reasons why it had to be this way in the process must be explained." Furthermore, Park Ji-sung said, "At a time when the team is composed of some of the best players in Korean football history, the inability to support the squad is something that not only football people but also fans find most regrettable," expressing remorse, "I feel sorry. As a senior, I should have created an environment where juniors could showcase their skills under better conditions."