President Lee Jae-myung sharply criticized the Korean Football Association (KFA) for its closed decision-making structure and operational methods, calling for the establishment of a transparent and democratic election system as a fundamental solution.
During a joint work report on August 5 at the Blue House with officials from the Ministry of Education, the National Education Commission, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Cultural Heritage Administration, President Lee discussed reform measures for sports organizations with Yoo Seung-min, president of the Korean Sports Council.
In the work report, President Lee addressed various controversies surrounding the KFA, stating, "Recently, the public has shown interest in the KFA. While there are several issues, the root of the biggest problem seems to be the undemocratic organization." He added, "The question is whether a democratically and objectively recognized person is elected, and secondly, the issue of long-term incumbency is problematic."
He also touched on the election and operational systems across the sports sector. "I have experienced sports organizations directly and indirectly, and the election process is extremely competitive," he said. "There is a significant political connection, and it seems that political intentions and vested interests are involved, with many factions present."
To fundamentally resolve these issues, President Lee emphasized the importance of democratic composition. He proposed expanding the electorate for the presidential election to ensure fairness. He stressed that individual sports organizations should significantly increase their voting rights, similar to the Korean Sports Council's current electorate of over 92,000.
"The scope should be broadened as much as possible so that voters can directly elect. If the electorate is too narrow, it is meaningless," he said. "We need to ensure direct elections and prevent excessively long tenures."
He also referenced a recent recommendation from the K-Football Innovation Committee to increase the KFA's electoral body from around 300 to a maximum of 20,000 and to utilize an electronic voting system. President Lee questioned Yoo, saying, "I heard there was a dispute about whether to implement direct elections for the KFA presidency. If we are to apply the Korean Sports Council's regulations, direct elections should be mandatory. Why was there controversy?"
In response, Yoo explained, "We have not yet changed the regulations for member sports organizations. Since the KFA president has already resigned, we need to hold a by-election, which has caused some confusion. Some affiliated organizations have very few members, while others are larger, so we need to allow for some autonomy in this regard."
Looking ahead, President Lee stated that the new executive structure and operational guidelines for sports associations should prioritize democratic composition, transparent operations, and fair accounting. "Many people are watching, so I hope you will do well," he urged.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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