Chung Mong-gyu and Hong Myung-bo to Attend National Assembly Today... Responding to Controversies over Coach Appointment

The National System and Culture Committee to Conduct Current Issue Inquiries from 10 AM

Chung Mong-gyu, President of the Korea Football Association, and Hong Myung-bo, head coach of the national football team, will appear at the National Assembly on the 24th.

The National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee will hold a plenary session starting at 10 a.m. that day to conduct inquiries on current issues. President Chung and Coach Hong are expected to face questions from lawmakers regarding the controversy over the appointment of the national football team head coach.

Committee members, including Jeon Jae-su, chairman of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, are anticipated to focus on whether there were any problems in the appointment process of Coach Hong and whether the procedures were legitimate.

Jung Mong-gyu, President of the Korea Football Association [Photo by Yonhap News]

The Korea Football Association formed a national team strength enhancement committee immediately after dismissing former head coach J?rgen Klinsmann in February and searched for a new coach for about five months before finally appointing Coach Hong, who was leading Ulsan Hyundai in the professional K League 1.

During this process, former Strength Enhancement Committee Chairman Jeong Hae-seong suddenly resigned at the end of June, and Lee Im-saeng, Technical Director of the Korea Football Association, completed the appointment procedures for the national team. Director Lee personally met and interviewed foreign coach candidates David Wagner and Gus Poyet before ultimately selecting Coach Hong. However, unlike the foreign candidates, it was later revealed that Coach Hong was appointed without an interview or presentation, sparking controversy over the fairness of the appointment process.

Football fans expressed strong dissatisfaction by booing Coach Hong during his first match back as head coach on the 5th, the third round of the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup Asian qualifiers against Palestine. The national team drew 0-0 with Palestine, a team considered to be of a lower tier, which also raised questions about Coach Hong’s tactical capabilities.

Hong Myung-bo, Head Coach of the National Football Team [Photo by Yonhap News]

Committee members reportedly reviewed the appointment process by obtaining records of the 11 meetings held by the Strength Enhancement Committee from the Football Association.

Jin Jong-oh, a member of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee from the People Power Party who operates the “Sports Corruption National Reporting Center,” previously stated, “We received reports that the coach appointment process was unfair,” and added, “We plan to raise issues based on materials and evidence.”

In addition to President Chung and Coach Hong, the plenary session will include Lee Im-saeng, Technical Director; former Strength Enhancement Committee Chairman Jeong Hae-seong; Kim Dae-eop, head of the technical department responsible for football administration; and Park Moon-sung, a commentator who has been critical of the Football Association’s administration, all appearing as witnesses. Former committee member Park Joo-ho, who caused a stir by claiming on his personal YouTube channel that some committee members pressured the appointment of domestic football figures over foreign coaches after Coach Hong’s appointment, will also attend.

Besides the controversy over Coach Hong’s appointment, the committee is expected to question President Chung’s bid for a fourth term and the Football Association’s issue of opening a 60 billion won overdraft account without approval from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism during the construction of the Cheonan Football Complex Center.

Furthermore, the committee will summon key figures from the Korea Badminton Association to investigate the controversy surrounding 2024 Paris Olympic gold medalist An Se-young’s “determined remarks.”

Lee Ki-heung, president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, is also expected to appear before the National Assembly to respond to questions regarding his reappointment and related matters.