KOC to revise election rules July 16, scrapping KFA's indirect voting system

The election to fill the Korea Football Association presidency, left vacant by Chung Mong-gyu's resignation, is expected to be held under a direct voting system rather than the existing indirect election format. An exception to the rule requiring a new president to be elected within 60 days is also expected to apply.

Chung stepped down Monday after holding an executive meeting at Korea Football Park in Cheonan that morning. From the moment he submitted his resignation, the KFA was required to begin the process of selecting a new leader.

Chung had earlier announced through a statement on May 29 that he would leave the presidency after the North and Central America World Cup, without specifying an exact date. After the national team was eliminated in the group stage — finishing last in Group A with a dismal run of results — and head coach Hong Myung-bo resigned voluntarily, internal turmoil deepened and Chung ultimately moved up his departure.

The KFA said that under Article 23 of its bylaws, one of its vice presidents will serve as acting president following approval from the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee. "We plan to prepare the successor election process in a fair and orderly manner under the acting president's leadership," it said.

Under KFA bylaws, when the presidency falls vacant, the vice president designated in the order established at the time of appointment — or, if no such order exists, the most senior vice president by age — assumes the acting role upon KSOC approval. If the remaining term exceeds one year, a new president must be elected within 60 days. Chung's term was originally set to run through 2029.

Under the current rules, the senior vice president would take over as acting president, and the next KFA president would be chosen by an electoral college of 192 members.

That indirect system, however, is widely expected to be scrapped before the election takes place. Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young said on social media on June 29 that she had heard concerns from some quarters that the new KFA president would have to be chosen the same way as before, under the existing bylaws, and in effect ruled that out.

Against that backdrop, the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee decided to convene an extraordinary general assembly on July 16 to revise its election-related bylaws. The KFA, as a member organization of the KSOC, will be bound by those changes.

A KSOC official said the planned revisions include replacing the indirect election system — which had capped the electoral college at between 100 and 300 members — with a direct election, and also amending the provision requiring a new president to be elected within 60 days of a vacancy.

The planned introduction of an extended deadline or an exception clause for the "60-day election" rule means the KFA will effectively be unable to proceed with selecting a new president under its current bylaws.