Assembly summons Hong Myung-bo, Chung Mong-gyu for July 22 KFA hearing
Lawmakers will hold a July 22 hearing on the football association’s coaching appointment process and broader governance, summoning figures including Hong Myung-bo and Chung Mong-gyu.
Hong Myung-bo takes a moment during a press conference announcing his resignation as manager of the Korean men's national team at Chivas Verde Valle in Zapopan, Mexico, on June 29NEWS1
Lawmakers on Thursday moved to examine perceived problems within the Korea Football Association (KFA), deciding to hold a hearing on July 22 and summon 13 witnesses, including former national team manager Hong Myung-bo and former KFA president Chung Mong-gyu.
"The National Assembly will examine the various issues that have emerged in the process of appointing the men's national football team manager and in the overall governance of the KFA, while exploring ways to reform the association,” ruling Democratic Party Rep. Lee Jae-jung, chair of the parliamentary culture, sports and tourism committee, said.
The Assembly’s move comes after Korea failed to reach the round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with one win and two losses in Group A. Hong resigned after the final group stage match, but his poor results sparked anger from the public and led the national team supporters group, the Red Devils, to demand that he step away from Korean football.
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The scheduled hearing would mark another parliamentary effort aimed at the KFA after the National Assembly identified irregularities from the appointment process of Hong in 2024.
Hong, Chung and former KFA Technical Director Lee Lim-saeng all appeared before a parliamentary hearing in 2024 over the controversial coaching appointment process, which came under scrutiny as Lee had allegedly bypassed the National Team Committee in charge of the selection to appoint Hong on his own.
During the 2024 hearing, lawmakers revealed internal KFA evaluation materials suggesting the association had favored Hong over the other two finalists, Guy Poyet of Uruguay and David Wagner of Germany.
While the presentation praised Hong for implementing a style of play aligned with the KFA's vision and for his development as a coach, it gave far more critical assessments of the two foreign candidates.
Poyet was described as lacking notable managerial achievements despite leading Brighton & Hove Albion to promotion from League One in the 2010-11 campaign, while Wagner was criticized for having no national team coaching experience and for concerns that Korean players might struggle to adapt to his high-pressing style, despite guiding Huddersfield Town to the Premier League for the 2017-18 season.
Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-gyu leaves the Korean national team's hotel in Guadalajara, Mexico, on June 28.NEWS1
Chung was also at the center of public criticism at the time, as he approved of the appointment. Chung also resigned on Monday following mounted backlash over his handling of the KFA.
For this year’s hearing, the National Assembly will also look into how the KFA handles its other administrative works and whether the association needs changes.
As for invited witnesses, the parliament decided to summon Park Ji-sung, a co-head of the K-Football Innovation Committee — a new government-formed committee on reforming Korean football — alongside committee members Lee Young-pyo and Park Joo-ho.
National team regular picks Son Heung-min of Los Angeles FC and Hwang Hee-chan of Wolverhampton Wanderers have also been included on the invited witness list.
