Jin Jong-oh raises questions over Hong Myung-bo's fast-tracked coaching license

People Power Party lawmaker Jin Jong-oh has raised allegations over how former South Korea national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo obtained his top-level coaching license.

Speaking in a phone interview on CBS Radio's "Park Sung-tae's News Show" on Tuesday, Jin said earning a P-license — required to manage a national team — takes some coaches eight to ten years. "Hong Myung-bo obtained it in a very short period of time," he said.

The P-license is the highest-level coaching certification issued by the Asian Football Confederation and is mandatory for anyone seeking to manage a national team or a top-tier league club.

Jin said former player Ahn Jung-hwan had mentioned on a television program that it took him ten years to earn the license, and that coaches sometimes yield their spot in line to others who want to manage sooner. "Hong Myung-bo got it very easily," Jin said.

He went on to say that the Korea Football Association controls the order in which licenses are issued. "If he got it that easily, one could reasonably suspect he had to be in the association's good graces," Jin said.

Jin also called for the Korea Football Association to be held accountable for the national team's poor World Cup showing.

"The coach's leadership was a problem, but the biggest reason for the defeat is the KFA leadership," Jin said. "The process and procedures for appointing the coach were carried out while ignoring the entire system."

He then criticized the association, saying it "is not an organization for the players but a group that serves itself."

Jin also called for reform of how the association is run. "The chairman is currently elected through an indirect system, where the electoral college is made up of voters the association itself chooses," he said. "The association can only change if we quickly switch to a direct election." Noting that KFA Chairman Chung Mong-gyu's term ends in mid-July, Jin said the election method should be revised quickly through consultations before his tenure concludes.

Jin added that about 8.2 billion won ($5.32 million) from the National Sports Promotion Fund and 5.3 billion won from sports lottery revenue distributions were channeled into the association last year, totaling 13.5 billion won in public funds. "A thorough audit and investigation are needed," he said.

Meanwhile, Jin held a press conference at the National Assembly's media center on Monday, announcing he would launch a whistleblower center to collect tips on corruption involving the football association.