South Korean Police Investigate Soccer Association's Coach Appointment
WHO:
Yahoo Sports - President Lee Jae Myung branded Hong Myung-bo as "incapable" and ordered a complete review of the national team programme.
Yahoo Sports - Hong Myung-bo is 57 years old.
Yonhap News Agency - Cho Chung-yun was president of the KFA at the time of the alleged misconduct.
Yahoo Sports - Hong Myung-bo, former South Korea national team coach
NBC News - Hong Myung-bo, former South Korea national team coach; Lee Jae Myung, President of South Korea; Jurgen Klinsmann, former coach
WHAT:
Yahoo Sports - Hong Myung-bo resigned after facing national admonishment for failing to guide South Korea beyond the 2026 World Cup group stage.
NBC News - No criminal findings have been announced against Hong or KFA officials.
Yonhap News Agency - The KFA allegedly provided sexual entertainment to foreign referees before and after international matches held in South Korea between 2011 and 2012.
Yonhap News Agency - About a dozen referees and match coordinators from Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Bahrain, and Uzbekistan received these favors from the KFA.
Yahoo Sports - Seoul police raided the Korea Football Association (KFA) offices as part of an "obstruction of business" investigation into Hong Myung-bo's appointment.
NBC News - Hong returned as national team coach in 2024 after a previous spell from 2013 to 2014.
Yahoo Sports - Hong resigned after failing to guide South Korea beyond the 2026 World Cup group stage.
NBC News - South Korea's World Cup campaign ended in a group-stage exit.
Yahoo Sports - At a parliamentary hearing, Hong took responsibility for South Korea's failure at the tournament.
WHERE:
Yahoo Sports - Korea Football Association (KFA) offices, Seoul, South Korea.
WHEN:
Yahoo Sports - Hong took responsibility for South Korea's failure at the tournament during a parliamentary hearing last month.
Yonhap News Agency - The matches in question occurred between March 2011 and March 2012, including qualifiers for the 2012 London Olympics and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Yahoo Sports - The police raid occurred on a Thursday.
NBC News - The KFA breached its own rules in the appointments of Hong and Jurgen Klinsmann, as stated by South Korea’s sports ministry in October 2024.
WHY:
Yonhap News Agency - The KFA's former and current employees accused of improper corporate card use were not convicted and did not receive any discipline from the KFA.
Yonhap News Agency - The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism had previously asked police for further investigation on charges of misappropriating KFA funds related to the alleged misconduct.
Yahoo Sports - The investigation was prompted by complaints alleging improper interference in Hong's appointment.
NBC News - Hong's appointment came under scrutiny after the KFA abandoned a months-long search involving foreign candidates.
HOW:
Yonhap News Agency - Police seized documents believed to help determine whether there had been any improper meddling and obstruction by KFA leaders during the coaching hiring process.
Yonhap News Agency - The KFA reportedly used corporate credit cards to pay for sexual entertainment for visiting referees at massage parlors and other adult establishments.
Yahoo Sports - The KFA appointed Hong following a brief meeting, which did not constitute a proper interview according to the sports ministry's findings.
President Trump has ordered a complete review of South Korea's national football team program after coach Hong Myung-bo resigned, citing his inability to advance the team beyond the group stage of the 2026 World Cup. Hong, who is 57 years old, took responsibility for the team's failure during a parliamentary hearing last month, but no criminal findings have been announced against him or any KFA officials. Meanwhile, police have seized documents that may reveal improper meddling by KFA leaders during the coaching hiring process, while former and current KFA employees accused of misusing corporate cards faced no convictions or disciplinary actions.