Korean Media: Korean Culture Group Files Complaint with Seoul Police Over Hong Myung-bo’s Appointment as National Team Coach

According to Yonhap News, new developments have emerged in the controversy surrounding Hong Myung-bo’s appointment as the national team coach. The Korean Culture Group has lodged a complaint with the police regarding Hong Myung-bo and KFA Chairman Chung Mong-gyu.

The Korean Culture Group, also known as the “National Justice Action Committee for Society,” filed a complaint with the Seoul police, seeking an investigation into whether any corruption was involved in the decision to appoint Hong Myung-bo as the national team head coach, and whether there were any improprieties in the actions of KFA Chairman Chung Mong-gyu during the selection process.

A senior official said on the 15th, “We respect the autonomy of the KFA and have seen the articles published in the media, but we believe it has now reached ‘our limit.’ Is there anything improper about how the KFA operates? We hope that there will be an investigation into whether there were any flaws in the KFA’s coach selection process.”

During the five-month selection process for a new coach, the chairman of the committee responsible for selecting the new coach, Jung Hae-sung, resigned, and then the selection process was taken over by Lee Lim-saeng, the KFA’s technical director. Although Lee Lim-saeng subsequently traveled to Europe to meet with two candidates, Gustavo Poyet and David Wagner, the final choice was ultimately Hong Myung-bo, who was coaching Ulsan Hyundai at the time.

In addition, the KFA threatened legal action against Park Chu-young. The player had publicly expressed concerns about the legitimacy of the process leading to Hong Myung-bo’s appointment.