Ongoing Controversy Over Director Appointment at Chukhyup
'4-Line Acrostic Event' Underway on SNS
Soccer Fans Criticize Chukhyup with Witty 4-Line Acrostics
Recently, the Korea Football Association (KFA), which has been facing continuous controversy regarding the appointment of a coach, held an online acrostic poem event. Although the event was planned to win back fans' hearts, fans responded coldly by posting acrostic poems criticizing the KFA one after another.
KFA, which caused controversy over the appointment of coach Hong Myung-bo, announced that it will hold an acrostic poem event. [Photo by Yonhap News, K3·K4 League Instagram capture]
On the 16th, an announcement about the acrostic poem event was posted on the official social media accounts of the K3 and K4 leagues, hosted and operated by the KFA. The event runs from the 15th to the 29th of this month, and participants who leave a four-line acrostic poem starting with the letters K, 3, K, and 4 in the comments will be entered into a draw to win mobile vouchers for chicken, coffee, and other items for 40 people.
This event is presumed to be an attempt to calm the rapidly deteriorating public opinion following the appointment of coach Hong Myung-bo. However, the reactions from football fans to the event have been cold. Most netizens criticize the KFA for trying to gloss over negative issues with a simple event without providing a satisfactory explanation.
Football fans cleverly composed acrostic poems on the event page to criticize the KFA. The most agreed-upon comment read: ▲K: Klinsmann, Hwang Sun-hong, Hong Myung-bo ▲3: The coach appointments ruined by three consecutive failures ▲K: Jung Mong-gyu, the main culprit of KFA’s downfall ▲4: Absolutely opposed to a fourth term. The first K refers to the names of former South Korea national team coaches J?rgen Klinsmann and acting coach Hwang Sun-hong, as well as the current coach Hong Myung-bo, while also sending sarcasm toward KFA chairman Jung Mong-gyu.
Netizens responded to this comment with remarks such as "How can they win against this?", "This is a masterpiece," "Honestly, this person deserves an award," and "Did they hold this event so boldly without expecting comments like these?"
A netizen's comment with the highest empathy in the '4-line acrostic event'. [Photo by K3·K4 League Instagram]
In addition, netizens criticized the KFA with witty replies such as ▲K: Paying Klinsmann’s salary ▲3: Giving out 3 billion won each ▲K: Korea University network football ▲4: Looks like we’ll lose another four years, ▲K: Is the K League not Korean football? ▲3: Former Ulsan HD coach competing for a third consecutive loss ▲K: Going straight to coach the Korea national team, Korean football ▲4: Has regressed for 40 years.
Meanwhile, on the 7th, the KFA announced the appointment of Hong Myung-bo as the head coach of the national team. At the time of appointment, Coach Hong was serving as the Ulsan HD coach, and the announcement contrasted sharply with earlier statements that a foreign coach was being considered, which greatly disappointed football fans. Adding to the controversy, Park Joo-ho, a member of the KFA’s Strengthening Committee, revealed internally that he was expected to be appointed as coach, further escalating the dispute.
The controversy was not limited to football fans. Retired national team players such as Lee Young-pyo, Lee Chun-soo, Park Ji-sung, and Kim Young-kwang also pointed out flaws in the KFA’s administrative procedures. In response, Coach Hong said, "Regardless of seniority, it is not bad to create an atmosphere where anyone can speak up for Korean football," adding, "I am well aware of the concerns many people have. This is the last challenge of my life. I hope for your support."
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