Chung Mong-gyu and Hong Myung-bo Attend National Assembly... Lawmakers Criticize "Insufficient Data Submission" from the Start

Chung Mong-gyu, President of the Korea Football Association, and Hong Myung-bo, head coach of the national football team, appeared at the plenary session of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee on the 24th. They attended to respond to lawmakers' questions regarding the recent controversy surrounding the appointment process of Coach Hong Myung-bo. At the meeting, which attracted nationwide attention, lawmakers criticized the Korea Football Association and related personnel from the start for insufficient submission of materials.

The Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee plenary session began at 10 a.m. After Chairman Jeon Jae-soo introduced the witnesses and reference persons, Chung Mong-gyu, representing the witnesses present, took the oath.

Shortly after, Kim Seung-soo, a member of the People Power Party, pointed out the football association's insufficient submission of materials during a procedural speech.

Lawmaker Kim said, "More than half of the 129 documents jointly requested by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee members have not been submitted," adding, "Materials such as Coach Hong's contract period and salary, the criteria for setting salaries of past national team coaches, contract periods of domestic and foreign national team coaches, and salary data offered to foreign coach candidates have not been provided."

Following this, Park Soo-hyun of the Democratic Party also criticized, "Materials such as the minutes of the Strengthening Committee meetings have not been submitted, showing insufficient provision of documents," and said, "This is an act of disregarding the National Assembly and the public, revealing the association's lack of willingness to resolve the issue. I express regret over whether the football association is prepared to respond to the public's anger."

Chung Mong-gyu, President of the Korea Football Association, is taking the oath as a witness during the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee's inquiry into the Korea Football Association held at the National Assembly on the 24th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

In response to the continued criticism from lawmakers, President Chung Mong-gyu said, "Various personal information is included in the materials," and added, "We will cooperate in submitting the documents after consulting with our lawyers."

Chairman Jeon responded, "We fully understand the intention to protect personal information, but since this meeting reflects the demands of the public, there is also an obligation to answer sincerely," and requested, "Please submit the materials with the personal information redacted." Min Hyung-bae of the Democratic Party pointed out that the association is refusing to submit materials even for content unrelated to personal information.

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

The Korea Football Association formed a national team Strengthening Committee shortly after dismissing former coach J?rgen Klinsmann in February and searched for a new coach for about five months, ultimately appointing Coach Hong, who was leading Ulsan Hyundai in the professional K League 1.

During this process, former Strengthening Committee chairman Jeong Hae-seong suddenly resigned at the end of June, and Technical Director Lee Im-saeng completed the national team appointment procedures. Director Lee personally met with foreign coach candidates David Wagner and Gus Poyet before ultimately selecting Coach Hong. However, it was later revealed that unlike the foreign candidates, Coach Hong was appointed without interviews or presentations, sparking controversy over the fairness of the appointment process.

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

Besides the controversy over Coach Hong's appointment, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee is expected to question President Chung's bid for a fourth term, the Korea Football Association's opening of a 60 billion won overdraft account during the construction of the Cheonan Football Complex Center without approval from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and other issues. Additionally, the committee plans to summon key figures from the Korea Badminton Association to address controversies related to 2024 Paris Olympic gold medalist An Se-young's candid remarks.