Court Halts Ministry of Culture's Suspension of Chung Mong-gyu, President of Football Association... Execution Stay Granted

Chung Retains Eligibility as Candidate
for Upcoming Chairman Election

The court accepted the Korea Football Association's request for a suspension of execution, seeking to halt the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's demand for a severe disciplinary action against the current chairman, Chung Mong-gyu.

On the 11th, the Administrative Division 5 of the Seoul Administrative Court (Presiding Judge Kim Soon-yeol) ruled in favor of the football association's application for suspension of execution against the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's notification of specific audit results and demand for measures.

The court stated, "It is recognized that there is an urgent need to prevent irreparable damage to the applicant caused by the disposition," and added, "It is difficult to see that the suspension of execution would cause a significant impact on public welfare."

Last November, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced the results of an audit on the football association, demanding severe disciplinary actions, including disqualification, against Chairman Chung and other key personnel. Dissatisfied with this, the football association filed a lawsuit on the 21st of last month seeking cancellation of the ministry's disposition and applied for suspension of execution. With the court accepting the suspension application, the effect of the ministry's demand for severe disciplinary action against Chairman Chung has been halted, and the necessity of the discipline will be determined in the main trial.

However, as the football association decided to postpone judgment on Chairman Chung's disciplinary status until the final ruling is confirmed, he maintains his eligibility as a candidate for the upcoming chairman election scheduled for the 26th. The next chairman election of the football association was originally scheduled for the 8th of last month but was postponed after a provisional injunction request to ban the election, filed by former national team coach Heo Jeong-moo a day before the election, was accepted.