Professor Sin Seon Shin Declares Candidacy for Livestock Association President: "Must End Era of Chaebol Heads as Presidents"

Professor Sin Moon-seon of Myongji University officially announced his candidacy for the 55th president of the Korea Football Association (KFA) on the 3rd by releasing a declaration titled "Finding the Path to Reform Korean Football."

With Professor Sin's entry, the number of candidates who have declared their intention to run for KFA president has increased to three. Previously, former national team coach Huh Jung-moo and current president Chung Mong-gyu, who is seeking a fourth term, had announced their candidacies.

Professor Sin Moonseon. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

Professor Sin emphasized that he will transform the association so that football professionals can take charge of its administration.

He stated, "The era of chaebol heads managing the administration must end with the Chung Mong-gyu administration," adding, "Sin Moon-seon's administration will be a fair association that provides opportunities to skilled and hardworking football practitioners." He also stressed, "The CEO of the Korea Football Association must be an expert who understands football and possesses business acumen to maximize the association's revenue."

Professor Sin strongly criticized current president Chung Mong-gyu for failing to fulfill his promises to increase the association's revenue.

He said, "Since taking office on January 9, 2013, Chung Mong-gyu has failed to meet even the promise of doubling the revenue from 100 billion won to 200 billion won during his initial four-year term. Despite serving two and three consecutive terms, the revenue has stagnated or even declined over the past eight years. The pledge made by Chung Mong-gyu, who was first elected as KFA president, to increase revenue from the 100 billion won range to 200 billion won has become an empty promise." He added, "The total operating income of the Football Association in 2022 and 2023 was approximately 125.5 billion won and 120.6 billion won respectively, showing no progress, which warrants criticism of Chung as the CEO of the Football Association."

Professor Sin declared, "Together with football colleagues who possess ability, honesty, and a spirit of challenge, I will transform the Football Association's brand, which has become synonymous with corruption and loss of fairness, into a symbol of clean fairness." He emphasized, "We will rebirth the Football Association as a service organization for players, amateur footballers, and football-loving citizens."

Professor Sin played as a player for the Yukong football team for three seasons starting in 1983 before retiring early from active play. Since 1986, he has worked as a broadcast commentator, gaining popularity among the public. He has been a professor at Myongji University since 2011 and served as CEO of Seongnam FC in 2014, building his career as a football administrator. In 2017, he ran for president of the Korea Professional Football League, becoming the first candidate from the ranks of football practitioners, but was not elected.

The KFA presidential election will be held on January 8 next year, with candidate registration taking place from the 25th to the 27th of this month. The new president's term will begin at the regular general meeting on January 22.