Park Ji-sung vows to restore trust in Korean football as reform panel kicks off

Park Ji-sung, South Korea's "eternal captain," has stepped forward to lead a sweeping overhaul of Korean football's governance and institutional foundations.

The K-Football Innovation Committee, co-chaired by Park — a FIFA subcommittee member — and Korean Sport & Olympic Committee President Yoo Seung-min, held its inaugural meeting Monday afternoon at the Olympic Parktel in Songpa-gu, Seoul. The session ran roughly 50 minutes over schedule as members engaged in heated debate over the full range of problems facing Korean football.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Park said the committee's role is to "provide direction for restoring the trust in Korean football that has collapsed," adding that all members agreed that "many football figures must participate and a presidential election conducted through democratic procedures must take place to win back the trust of the entire public."

He said the committee had reached a shared understanding that "the current system is not working," and that the Korea Football Association would actively take up and review the committee's recommendations while the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, as the umbrella body, would provide administrative support. Park signaled that both personnel and institutional reform across the football community were on the agenda.

Beyond governance, the committee plans to tackle a broad set of priorities aimed at strengthening Korean football's long-term competitiveness — including an overhaul of the youth player development system and the introduction of advanced technology systems. Members will convene at least once a week.

Park drew a firm line against concerns over political interference and the pursuit of private interests. On the decision by Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young to step down as co-chair and participate as a regular member instead, Park said his first concern as a football figure was "the possibility of government interference, which FIFA prohibits," and made clear that the committee "is not a body that can intervene politically and get things done."

He also addressed the possibility that committee members might later run for the Korea Football Association presidency, saying it "would not be fair" if anyone joined the committee with that intention, and that "everyone participating came in with a clear understanding of this point."

Park said that "what the committee can ultimately do in the current situation is point the way in directions the association cannot find on its own and help restore trust," making clear that the panel is an advisory body without legal binding force but one intended to serve as a compass for reforming Korean football. He also said the vacancy in the national team head coach position was not specifically discussed at Monday's inaugural meeting.