Ex-coach Hong Myung-bo grilled over South Korea football selection, salary at hearing

Former South Korean national football team coach Hong Myung-bo was summoned as a witness to a parliamentary hearing on July 30, facing sharp criticism from lawmakers over the national team's controversial selection process and the Football Association's management.

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Isn’t it true that the coach could not exercise leadership because he was appointed unfairly?

Members of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee from both ruling and opposition parties grilled Hong and former association president Chung Mong-gyu about alleged unfair practices in appointing the national team's head coach. Democratic Party lawmaker Cho Kye-won questioned if Hong's leadership was hampered by his allegedly unfair appointment. People Power Party lawmaker Bae Hyun-jin confronted Hong about meeting with a technical director at a bakery late at night before his appointment, asking if he felt ashamed.

Hong, who took charge in July 2024 and led the team to a group stage exit in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with one win and two losses, defended himself. He acknowledged that meeting the former technical director, Lee Im-saeng, at a neighborhood bakery might appear opaque to the public but insisted he never sought any special favors or benefits. The meeting was confirmed in a 2024 government audit of the association.

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Were you not ashamed to be appointed without a separate interview after meeting the technical director at a bakery at 11 p.m.?

Concerns were also raised about Hong's salary, with Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Jun-ho suggesting it had increased significantly from his time as Ulsan Hyundai coach to the national team role. Hong denied receiving 3.8 billion won (pre-tax), stating his salary was considerably less. The hearing also delved into past issues, including 27 instances of illegal or improper administrative actions identified by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in a 2024 audit. The ministry had sought disciplinary action against Chung Mong-gyu, but the association is currently engaged in a legal battle after appealing a lower court ruling that favored the ministry.

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It may seem opaque to the public that I met (the former director) at a neighborhood bakery, but I have never demanded any special treatment or benefits.

Chung Mong-gyu, who resigned after the World Cup exit, faced questions about his continued assertion of no wrongdoing despite the ministry's findings. He stated that some issues identified by the ministry had been immediately rectified. When asked about withdrawing the appeal, he stated he was no longer in a position to do so after stepping down as president. Chung, who led the association for 13 years amid criticism of cronyism, also failed to fulfill a pledge to donate 5 billion won to the association if re-elected for a fourth term. Text messages exchanged between Chung and a parliamentary committee member during a recess, suggesting lobbying efforts, also drew scrutiny.

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There are rumors that Hong's salary increased to 3.8 billion won after becoming the national team coach, from around 1 billion won during his time as Ulsan coach.