Jeong Mong-kyu, the former president of the Korea Football Association (KFA), has returned home after undergoing nearly 12 hours of intense police questioning regarding allegations of exerting improper influence in the appointment of Hong Myung-bo as head coach of the South Korean national football team.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Financial Crimes Investigation Unit summoned Jeong on September 2, questioning him from noon until 11:35 p.m. on charges including coercion, intimidation, obstruction of duty, and breach of trust.
The focus of the investigation was whether Jeong used his position to interfere with the board's final approval authority over the national team coach. Authorities also examined whether he exerted external pressure on KFA executives, including former technical director Lee Eung-sung, during the appointment process.
Jeong denied all allegations both before and after the questioning. Upon arriving at the police station, he told reporters, "I believe there was absolutely no improper intervention." After completing the approximately 11-and-a-half-hour interrogation, he maintained his stance, responding "No" when asked if he had any involvement in Hong's appointment and denying claims that he changed his phone to evade the investigation.
This summons marks the first questioning of Jeong since the case was transferred to the Seoul police. In July 2024, the Citizens' Livelihood Countermeasures Committee filed a complaint against him, alleging his involvement in coercion, obstruction of duty, and breach of trust related to Hong's appointment.
The case was initially handled by the Jongno Police Station, which received eight related complaints since July 2024 and investigated Jeong and other KFA officials. However, after nearly two years without significant progress or conclusions, the investigation faced criticism for being sluggish. The controversy intensified following South Korea's exit from the World Cup group stage this year, leading to remarks about President Lee Jae-myung's 'failure in personnel decisions.' Consequently, the investigation was transferred to the Seoul police's special investigation unit on July 1.
Since taking over the case, police have accelerated their investigation. On August 6, they conducted searches at the KFA headquarters in Jongno and the KFA office in Cheonan, securing relevant documents. They have also summoned board members and several members of the Strengthening Committee to verify facts. On August 26, they questioned Kim Jeong-bae, the former KFA vice president.
Hong Myung-bo was also summoned for a closed-door investigation as a suspect on August 4. However, he reportedly stated that he had no direct communication with Jeong during his appointment process.
The police are expected to analyze Jeong's statements, the materials obtained from the searches, and testimonies from KFA officials to investigate the decision-making structure surrounding the coach's appointment.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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