Police have launched a full-scale investigation into the appointment of former national team head coach Hong Myung-bo, summoning Korea Football Association officials and technical committee members simultaneously for questioning.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Metropolitan Investigation Unit's financial crimes unit called in two witnesses Tuesday: a person identified as "A," who served on the KFA's technical committee at the time of Hong's appointment, and "B," a former KFA vice president. The technical committee reviews candidates for the national team head coach position and recommends an appointment to the KFA board of directors.
Investigators are believed to have questioned A about the procedures the technical committee followed in appointing Hong and whether any rules were violated. A reportedly served on the technical committee in 2024 when it recommended Hong as its top candidate for the head coach position.
Police also questioned B about the process by which KFA board members were appointed and how the technical committee made its coaching recommendation. B served as a non-standing KFA vice president at the time of Hong's appointment. B is said to have told investigators that the board was not briefed on the technical committee's deliberations at the time.
Also questioned Tuesday was Kim Sun-hwan, secretary-general of the Citizens' Livelihood Committee, who filed a complaint against Hong and former KFA President Chung Mong-gyu on charges including coercion, intimidation, obstruction of business and breach of fiduciary duty. Kim's complaint alleged that senior KFA officials improperly interfered in Hong's appointment, constituting a breach of fiduciary duty.
Police plan to soon call in other former technical committee members who served alongside A, as well as officials from the KFA board of directors. A complaint related to Hong's appointment was first filed in July 2024, but police failed to reach a conclusion for roughly two years. Citing the gravity of the matter, police transferred the case to the Metropolitan Investigation Unit's financial crimes unit on July 1.
The financial crimes unit had questioned former national team player and ex-KFA technical committee member Park Joo-ho as a witness on Thursday. Park had previously raised concerns that the process of appointing Hong was unfair. Police are said to have obtained a statement from Park indicating that he had not been properly informed of how Hong's appointment was carried out.
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