Jung Mong-kyu on Postponement of Football Association President Election: "I Will Continue to Devote Myself Unchanged"

Court Grants Injunction Requested by Heo Jeong-mu
Temporary Postponement of Korea Football Association President Election

With the schedule for the 55th Korea Football Association (KFA) presidential election postponed, candidate Chung Mong-gyu expressed hope that the election would be held promptly and stated that he would quietly continue his efforts.

On the 8th, candidate Chung released a statement saying, "The 55th KFA presidential election, which was scheduled for today, could not be held due to the injunction prohibiting the presidential election," and added, "I respect the court's decision and request that the Election Management Committee correct procedural defects and hold the election promptly." He continued, "I will also comply with the regulations and devote myself to the election according to the methods and schedule decided by the Election Management Committee."

Candidate Chung Mong-gyu, who is challenging for a fourth term through the 55th Korea Football Association presidential election. Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, the Seoul Central District Court Civil Division 50 (Presiding Judge Im Hae-ji) granted the injunction filed by candidate Heo Jung-moo against the KFA to prohibit the presidential election. As a result, the KFA presidential election scheduled for the 8th was halted a day before. The KFA immediately announced, "The election date is temporarily postponed," and added, "We will notify you once a new schedule is established."

Regarding this, candidate Chung said, "As one of the candidates, I feel sorry for those who experienced inconvenience, including those who departed yesterday to participate in the election and many others who adjusted their schedules for today," and expressed gratitude, "I thank many football people for their support. I ask for your continued unwavering support and encouragement." He added, "In difficult times, we have united through football," and stated, "I will do my utmost to ensure that football people become one team again and that the situation stabilizes."

Meanwhile, candidate Heo filed an injunction to prohibit the presidential election at the Seoul Central District Court on the 30th of last month. The reasons for the injunction included the unclear composition of the Election Management Committee, the lack of proper announcement of the schedule and procedures, the election being conducted only through offline direct voting without an online method?effectively excluding professional football coaches and players participating in winter training camps from voting?and the formation of an electorate 21 fewer than the regulation maximum of 194 due to the 'non-submission of personal information consent forms,' all of which led to claims that election management was conducted unfairly.