The police are examining procedural violations in the appointment of former South Korean national football team coach Hong Myung-bo and are also considering investigating past allegations of sexual services provided to referees. However, they emphasize that they must first assess basic investigative requirements, including the statute of limitations, since the incidents occurred 15 years ago.
According to a report from Yonhap News on August 10, a Seoul police official stated during a regular briefing that when asked about the possibility of investigating the sexual service allegations involving the football association, "If we begin an investigation, we will consider it. We have not started yet."
The official added, "It seems necessary to review the prosecutorial requirements, but we have not confirmed the details yet." This suggests that they need to evaluate the basic conditions for criminal prosecution, including the statute of limitations, before proceeding with any investigation.
A report from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, made public on August 7, revealed that the Korean Football Association provided sexual services to about ten foreign referees and supervisors during seven A matches and Olympic team games held in South Korea from March 2011 to March 2012. Payments were made using the association's corporate credit cards at massage parlors in Seoul's Gangnam district, Changwon in Gyeongnam, and Ulsan, ranging from hundreds of thousands to over one million won.
For the police to initiate a formal investigation, there are numerous factors to consider. Under current law, they may contemplate charges of breach of trust or violations of the law on the punishment of prostitution. However, the statute of limitations of over 15 years typically applies only to serious crimes. If the allegations are proven true, but the statute of limitations has expired, compulsory investigations based on potential penalties would not be possible.
Currently, the police are focusing their investigation on the process of appointing former coach Hong Myung-bo. They are closely examining whether there was any undue interference in the decision-making structure of the football association, from the recommendation by the Strengthening Committee to the board's approval.
A police official stated that they had conducted searches at the Football Association headquarters in Jongno, Seoul, and in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, on August 6, and that the materials obtained are significant. "The Strengthening Committee recommends candidates, and the board makes decisions, so those documents are meaningful. We will assess the presence of any charges based on testimonies from related individuals," the official said.
The police have summoned several figures from the football community who were part of the Strengthening Committee at the time and have also questioned Hong Myung-bo, who is under investigation, along with Lee Im-sang, the former technical director of the football association.
Additionally, they have secured the mobile phone of former Football Association President Chung Mong-kyu. In response to allegations regarding the replacement of Chung's phone, the police emphasized, "We will thoroughly investigate that aspect as well."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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