Park Ji-sung to co-chair Sports Ministry's panel to reform Korean football

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on Friday that it will launch a temporary body to reform Korean football on Monday at the Seoul Olympic Parktel, in Songpa District, southern Seoul. 

The panel, dubbed the "K-football Innovation Committee," will be co-chaired by Minister Chae Hwi-young and FIFA Men’s Football Stakeholders Committee member Park Ji-sung, the former national team captain who wrote his name into Korean football lore during the 2002 World Cup.

Other members include Lee Young-pyo, Park's 2002 teammate, and Park Joo-ho, who racked up 40 caps for the Taeguk Warriors, as well as sports officials and experts, including Korean Sport and Olympic Committee President Ryu Seung-min, Korea Football Association Executive Director Kim Seung-hee, K League Secretary General Cho Yeon-sang, attorney Yoo Young-geun and Prof. Kim Dae-hee of Pukyong National University.

The committee is set to discuss key tasks aimed at boosting the future competitiveness of Korean football, including governance, youth player development and the introduction of advanced technology, in response to calls for reform that emerged after Korea were eliminated in the group stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026, finishing with one win and two losses.

Minister Chae met with football officials and experts in a series of recent meetings to build shared understanding and gather input on the issue.

"We will provide strong support so that a vision for Korean football can be established, centered on trusted figures in the sport, and put into practice on the ground," he said. 

"Through this committee, we will bring together the various concerns discussed on the ground to jointly design the direction Korean football should take, and chart a future in which K-football can continue to grow," Park Ji-sung said. 

BY LEE JIAN [[email protected]]