Amid ongoing controversy surrounding the election of the next president of the Korea Football Association and the appointment of the national team coach, an interview with Suh Kang-il, president of the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Football Association, has sparked backlash.
In a KBS interview on July 16, Suh criticized Park Ji-sung and Lee Young-pyo, stating, "What do Park Ji-sung and Lee Young-pyo know to be part of the innovation committee? What do they know to speak so carelessly?"
Suh continued, "They were national team players, but how much life experience do they have, how much do they know about the law, and how much social experience do they have to lead the innovation committee? Instead of just criticizing, they should run for president themselves."
Regarding the election process for the Korea Football Association president, he remarked, "According to the current bylaws, a by-election must be held within 60 days. Why are we trying to change the bylaws for direct elections?"
He added, "Without a president, the administration of the football association will be paralyzed. We have the Asian Games and A-matches to conduct; how can we appoint a coach without a president?"
Suh also defended former Korea Football Association president Chung Mong-kyu, saying, "Everyone makes mistakes in life except for God. I don't think Chung Mong-kyu deserves this level of criticism. While people call it a '13-year reign,' I see it as a '13-year sacrifice.'"
On the controversy surrounding the pardoning of those involved in match-fixing, he stated, "The intention at the time was to sometimes forgive and understand mistakes. However, it seems the timing was not right, and we may have rushed it a bit."
Addressing the controversy over his use of business class during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, he explained, "I said I couldn't fly economy due to knee issues, and the association suggested upgrading to business class, which I paid for out of my own pocket."
When asked about the possibility of running for the Korea Football Association presidency in the future, he said, "I will not comment on that, but I may consider it if someone without a commitment to reform emerges."
Following the interview, various online communities began to circulate Suh's comments along with his background. According to the disclosed information, Suh worked at Hyundai Motor from 1987 to 2007 and has served as CEO of Sejin Industrial, an automotive parts manufacturer, since 2012. He has also held positions as vice president of the Jeonju Football Association, vice president of the Wanju County Sports Council, and senior vice president of the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Association for Families with Disabled Persons.
Posts included comments like, "What kind of person is Suh Kang-il, a giant and hope in South Korean football? He claims to know more about football than Park Ji-sung and Lee Young-pyo, so his background must be impressive," along with shared ratings from Job Planet for Sejin Industrial, where Suh is CEO.
The company received a rating of 1.8 out of 5, with reviews stating, "A garbage company with no processes," "A typical company where loud voices solve everything," "Forced to work until 7:30 PM every day and required to work on Sundays," and "No overtime pay or weekend pay," drawing attention.
In response to the post, netizens commented, "Just by listening to him, it's clear how he runs things," "He seeks a position out of vanity," "What does he really know about football?" and "Thinking about how such people spread like cancer..." and "He reminds me of the previous badminton association president who came from a club background."
Meanwhile, evaluations on corporate review sites are based on subjective opinions from anonymous users and should not be considered objectively verified facts.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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