Shin Moon-sun, a visiting professor at Myongji University and a former football commentator, sharply criticized the Korea Football Association's poor administrative system. He cited testimony from Park Hang-seo, the former KFA vice president who accompanied the national team as head of the support delegation during the 2026 World Cup in North and Central America.
Shin recently highlighted Park's pointed criticism of the Korea Football Association on his YouTube channel, "Shin Moon-sun's Goal Is."
Park had earlier stirred controversy by saying he was thoroughly excluded from any meaningful role on the national team throughout the World Cup, despite various issues surrounding the tournament.
After hearing this, Shin explained why Park was chosen to head the delegation, saying, "He was the easiest to use. His personality and his positive public image made him a good fit," and added, "Whenever something went wrong, Park would apologize -- he was used that way."
Shin also took aim at the association for dodging responsibility in off-field conflicts, including the so-called "reporter bad-mouthing incident" that occurred at a training ground. He suggested that players, unable to communicate with the coaching staff, would have turned to Park instead.
Citing Park's remark that "there were team leaders and department heads, but even they isolated me," Shin said, "Whenever there was a problem, Park -- with his good image -- would apologize. Isn't that exactly how he was used?"
Shin also criticized former head coach Hong Myung-bo for denying the conflict during a National Assembly hearing, as well as the silence of major media outlets on the matter.
Shin pointed to Hong's response that he "never instructed any player to redo an interview, and while there were differing opinions within the squad over the interview issue, it never escalated to the level of conflict being described now." He then cited an online comment asking, "How can there be chaos like this without a single article being written about it?"
Shin's criticism also extended to former KFA President Chung Mong-gyu. He pointed out that Chung failed to keep his past pledge to contribute 5 billion won ($3.73 million), and criticized Chung's irresponsible conduct upon returning from the World Cup. He then said, "He started the fire himself with his apology statement, then tried to pass the phrase 'I will engage in painstaking self-reflection' onto someone else."
Finally, Shin urged a complete overhaul of the association's personnel. He said the KFA's operational structure was flawed, noting that even a neighborhood early-morning soccer club divides roles among its members when traveling for an away match. "Shouldn't everyone who was on the same boat with Chung Mong-gyu's leadership resign?" Shin said, adding, "I hope the electoral delegates carefully examine the candidates' policies and character to choose someone honest."
min3654@heraldcorp.com
