The Korean Football Association is expected to revise its regulation requiring the election of a new president within 60 days of a vacancy. This change reflects the K-Football Innovation Committee's commitment to restoring fan trust through a new electoral system that allows for adequate preparation time.
Park Ji-sung, chair of the K-Football Innovation Committee, spoke to reporters after the committee's second meeting at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Jongno, Seoul, on July 13. He stated, "The Korean Sports Council plans to amend the regulations that require member organizations to elect a new president within 60 days of a vacancy. We will support extending the election deadline in cases of unavoidable circumstances."
According to current Sports Council regulations, if a member organization’s president position becomes vacant, a new president must be elected within 60 days. However, the Innovation Committee believes that the existing rules do not provide sufficient time for a fundamental reform of the Football Association's governance and electoral system. The Sports Council plans to initiate the regulatory amendment process on July 14 and aims to complete it by the end of the month.
This initiative is part of the consensus reached during the first meeting of the K-Football Innovation Committee on July 6, which focused on reforming the governance of the Football Association. The committee is discussing broader measures to allow more football stakeholders to participate in elections. Park emphasized, "This action is not just for the Football Association. It considers the situations of various sports organizations, such as water skiing, jiu-jitsu, modern pentathlon, and hockey, which have faced difficulties due to prolonged vacancies exceeding 60 days."
The Football Association is also aligning with the Sports Council's efforts by planning to amend its bylaws and develop proposals for electoral system improvements for in-depth discussion at the next meeting.
Regarding the potential expansion of the electoral body and the introduction of direct elections, the committee expressed a cautious stance, prioritizing the establishment of a solid institutional foundation. Park stated, "Simply changing the electoral body does not guarantee a proper election. We must first create a foundation for conducting elections effectively. There will come a time when we need to adjust alongside other sports organizations in line with the Sports Council's broader electoral body composition."
He added, "A proper environment must be established to conduct a legitimate election, which will help select a capable president. It is clear that the next election will not proceed in the same manner as the previous Football Association presidential election. Many people have lost trust in the process, and if a president emerges from a more trustworthy environment, they will be better positioned to lead the Football Association."
On the topic of appointing the next national team coach, Park stated, "There have been no discussions on this matter. The appointment of a coach must follow proper procedures within the Football Association. If the Innovation Committee can assist in discussing procedures or systems, we are open to that."
He also mentioned that the Innovation Committee plans to sequentially review additional issues, such as youth player development, to establish a sustainable vision for K-Football.
Regarding speculation about attending a parliamentary hearing, Park dismissed the idea, stating, "I will not attend because I have nothing to contribute regarding the internal operations of the Football Association."
According to reports, the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee is set to hold a so-called 'World Cup hearing' on July 22 to examine issues related to the Football Association, including the procedures for appointing the national team coach.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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