South Korean authorities have launched a police raid on the Korea Football Association offices as part of an investigation into potential obstruction of business related to the appointment of former national team coach Hong Myung-bo. The action comes after mounting scrutiny over how the sporting organization conducted its hiring process for the role, which Hong assumed in 2024 following a prior tenure from 2013 to 2014.
The appointment has faced criticism after the KFA terminated an extensive international recruitment campaign and subsequently hired Hong following only a brief meeting with officials. This departure from standard procedures prompted the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to issue findings in October 2024 stating that the association violated its own appointment guidelines. The ministry determined that a meeting with the technical director did not meet the threshold of a formal interview process, though it ultimately concluded no illegal activity had occurred.
The controversy intensified following South Korea’s elimination from the FIFA World Cup during the group stage, leading lawmakers to question whether Hong had received preferential treatment. At a parliamentary hearing, Hong denied receiving special consideration while accepting responsibility for the team’s tournament performance. Police investigations into the appointment had commenced prior to the World Cup, though no criminal charges have been filed against Hong or federation officials to date.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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