Korea Football Association referees face bribery allegations at parliamentary audit

Allegations of bribery against a former referee committee chief compounded existing concerns about the Korea Football Association's lax referee administration at a parliamentary audit Wednesday.

Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Jo Gye-won released tip-off reports and audio recordings at the National Assembly's national audit Wednesday, alleging that Moon Jin-hee, the KFA's former referee committee chair, had solicited money from referees and referee evaluators while in office.

In the recordings, Moon is heard saying, "I've been around so long that I'm running low on ammunition — I called to ask you to support me with some ammunition," and, "Send me some pocket money, send it to an account, I'll give you an account number."

"If financial transactions were involved in match assignments and referee promotions and demotions, this goes far beyond simple bribery — it is a grave matter that undermines the integrity of the entire referee management system," Jo said.

Moon, who had been subpoenaed as a witness for the audit, did not appear Wednesday. Jo said Moon had deliberately avoided attending by failing to submit a written explanation for her absence and by changing her contact information.

Moon stepped down in August citing personal reasons. Earlier, at a hearing of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee on July 30, she drew criticism from lawmakers over her insincere attitude and conduct.

Separate allegations also emerged that a former referee implicated in match-fixing still wields influence in refereeing circles.

Jo said the former referee — detained and punished in connection with a 2015 K League club match-fixing case and handed a lifetime ban by the KFA — had taken on a representative role at a non-K League club and was exercising influence over referee assignments, rulings and promotion evaluations.

"This has already gone beyond systemic failure — the situation calls for criminal proceedings and a criminal investigation across the board," Jo said.

In response, KFA Vice President Lee Yong-su, serving as acting president, said the association's official registration process bars individuals with disqualifying records from registering. He added that he believed the person in question was using the title on a personal basis online.

Allegations raised in September that a referee evaluator had pressured officials to rule against a specific team were also brought up. Lee said the Sports Ethics Commission had investigated the matter and decided to file a complaint with police and the Sports Ethics Center.