Korea Football Association President Jeong Mong-gyu Challenges 4th Term... Facing Resignation Pressure Everywhere [News Figures]

As the election for the '55th President of the Korea Football Association' approaches, calls for the resignation of Chairman Chung Mong-gyu are growing louder.

Chairman Chung, who has served as the 52nd, 53rd, and 54th president of the Football Association since 2013, would be achieving a fourth consecutive term if he leads the association again next year.

However, voices opposing Chairman Chung's bid for a fourth term have emerged not only from football fans but also from political circles. Recently, even Yoo In-chon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, pressured him by saying, "Decide your own position."

On the 20th, Minister Yoo appeared on the radio and said, "When we started auditing the Football Association, we heard that documents were not being properly submitted, so I said, 'I will not just let this slide; I will definitely correct it,'" adding, "We are looking into issues such as the appointment process of the national team coach, the emergency pardon of corrupt football officials, and the construction of the Cheonan Football Center."

Minister Yoo continued, "We already have some answers (audit results), but on the 24th during the National Assembly standing committee meeting, the exact details will come out through their responses and questions from lawmakers," indicating that problems related to the Football Association will be revealed next week.

Regarding Chairman Chung's attempt at a fourth term, he emphasized, "Originally, the president is only allowed to serve two terms, but the Sports Fairness Committee permitted a third term," adding, "To serve a fourth term, that process (approval from the Fairness Committee) must be followed." He also said, "Personally, considering public opinion, I think it would be honorable for Chairman Chung to decide his own position."

Chairman Chung faced calls for accountability last March amid controversies including the pardon of match-fixing and corrupt football officials, the appointment and dismissal of former coach J?rgen Klinsmann, and related disputes over a 10 billion won penalty. At the 2024 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Asian Cup held in Qatar this year, the team was eliminated in the quarterfinals and failed to qualify for the Olympics for the first time in 40 years, further intensifying criticism against Chairman Chung. Additionally, the opaque process of appointing Hong Myung-bo as the new head coach of the South Korean national football team added fuel to the public outrage. Even within the association, there are factions opposing Chairman Chung's leadership.

On the 12th, the Football Association labor union issued a statement criticizing, "Ignoring the angry public opinion of football fans and the media, the Chung Mong-gyu administration blindly pursues the chairman’s fourth term candidacy, which is beyond ignorance and is sheer incompetence," and urged, "Chairman Chung should declare that he will not run and spend the remaining term stabilizing the crisis-ridden Football Association. His declaration of non-candidacy will be the first step in resolving the crisis in Korean football."

The National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee is expected to summon Chairman Chung as a witness on the 24th to question him on current issues.