Soccer Association Presidential Election After 12 Years
Jung Mong-gyu's 'Incumbent Premium' Advantage
Heo Jeong-mu Builds Career as Footballer and Administrator
Chung Mong-gyu, president of the Korea Football Association (KFA), is challenging for a fourth term as president of the Football Association. According to the KFA, President Chung reportedly signed and submitted a letter of intent to register as a candidate on the morning of the 2nd.
According to Yonhap News and others, for President Chung to run for the next term, he must notify the Football Association of his intention to run before the expiration date of his current term. This day is 50 days before his term expires on January 21 of next year.
Currently, former national football team coach Heo Jeong-moo has declared his candidacy, setting the stage for a 'two-way race' between President Chung and former coach Heo. This will be the first time in 12 years since Chung’s initial election in 2013 that the Football Association presidential election will be contested.
In the 2013 election, Chung defeated candidates including Heo Seung-pyo, chairman of PeopleWorks, Kim Seok-han, former chairman of the National Secondary Football Federation, and then-member of the National Assembly Yoon Sang-hyun. In his subsequent second and third terms, he ran unopposed and was re-elected without a contest.
President Chung has been connected to domestic football for 30 years, starting as the owner of Ulsan Hyundai (now HD) in 1994. According to media reports, he holds attractive conditions such as the ability to provide financial support to the Football Association and the premium of being the incumbent, and is known to have solid support from heads of affiliated organizations and provincial football associations under the KFA. Because of this, it is expected that Chung’s election campaign will be advantageous.
However, there are concerns regarding recent controversies surrounding his management policies at the Football Association and the harsh evaluations from football fans. In particular, the controversy over 'fairness' during the appointment process of Hong Myung-bo as head coach of the Korean national football team has damaged President Chung’s image.
Former coach Heo Jeong-moo, who declared his candidacy for the Korea Football Association president election. Photo by Yonhap News
Because of this, if the football community chooses President Chung in next year’s election, there is a possibility that fans’ disappointment will deepen. Ultimately, how sensitively the domestic football community regards 'public opinion' could influence the election outcome.
Meanwhile, President Chung’s opponent, former coach Heo, faces concerns about whether he can properly manage the Football Association, which handles an annual budget exceeding 100 billion won. However, his successful career as a footballer and administrator is considered a strong point.
Former coach Heo led South Korea to its first-ever round of 16 in an away World Cup in South Africa in 2010 and served as vice president of the Football Association from 2013 to 2014, gaining administrative experience. From 2015 to 2019, he was vice chairman of the Korea Professional Football League, and from 2020 until last year, he served as chairman of Daejeon Hana Citizen.
The Football Association presidential election is scheduled for January 8 next year, with the election management committee to be formed on December 12 to begin the official election procedures. The new president’s term will start from the regular general meeting on January 22 next year.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
