The South Korean national football team returned home on June 30 after a dismal performance in the final Group A match against South Africa, failing to advance to the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup. As criticism mounts against former head coach Hong Myung-bo, Football Association President Chung Mong-kyu, and other officials, attention is focused on whether any penalties will be imposed following a police investigation into their roles.
Hong, along with team manager Park Hang-seo, arrived at Incheon International Airport at 4 a.m. Unlike previous tournaments, there was no formal welcome ceremony, and the atmosphere was charged with hostility from numerous fans. Chants of "Hong Myung-bo, step down" and calls for salary refunds echoed through the airport, with some fans even beating drums in protest.
Due to threats against Hong circulating on social media, the team left the airport under heavy police protection. When reporters asked Hong if he had any comments for the fans, he did not respond.
In light of the team's poor performance, the government and ruling party have increased pressure on the Football Association. Following President Lee Jae-myung's directive, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Lee Hwi-young ordered a special audit of the association.
Additionally, an investigative committee involving external experts will be formed to review the association's overall operations, and public input will be solicited. The Democratic Party of Korea also announced plans to convene a meeting of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee to develop a legislative response.
The focus now shifts to the police investigation into complaints filed against Chung and other Football Association officials.
In February 2024, the Football Association appointed Hong as head coach through a questionable process, leading the Citizens' Livelihood Countermeasures Committee to file a complaint against Chung for obstruction of business and breach of trust in July of the same year. The case was assigned to the Jongno Police Station, which began its investigation. However, two years later, no action has been taken against those involved.
In addition to Chung, former technical director Lee Im-sang and other association officials involved in Hong's appointment are also under investigation, but no decisions have been made regarding their cases.
A representative from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency stated at a recent press conference that "eight related complaints have been filed since Hong's appointment, and we are continuing our legal review." The police explained that the delay is partly due to the need to observe the outcomes of ongoing administrative litigation.
In April, the Seoul Administrative Court ruled against the Football Association in a lawsuit seeking to cancel a request for severe disciplinary action against Chung. The court found that there were legal violations in the process of selecting Hong as the top candidate by the association's Strengthening Committee. However, the Football Association has appealed the ruling, claiming it cannot accept the court's decision.
Some legal experts express skepticism about the potential punishment for the association officials involved in Hong's appointment. A former police officer turned attorney noted in a conversation with Aju Economy that the prolonged investigation is partly due to the redistribution of investigative authority between the police and prosecutors, which has led to delays in many cases. He suggested that the heightened public interest in this case may have caused investigators to proceed with caution.
Regarding the likelihood of actual penalties for Chung, he stated, "Criminal cases are judged based on evidence. The outcome will depend on what evidence has been collected during the investigation. However, proving obstruction of business is challenging, as it requires clear evidence of coercive actions or the dissemination of false information. Given the allegations currently circulating in the media regarding the appointment process, it remains uncertain whether legal action can be applied. Therefore, the police are likely to exercise caution in their decision-making."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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