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Lawmaker Slams Football Association as 'Biggest Enemy,' Calls for Overhaul

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Rep. Song Young-gil criticized the Korea Football Association (KFA), calling it the "biggest enemy" of South Korean football.
  • He lamented the perceived unfairness in the appointment process of national team coach Hong Myung-bo and expressed nostalgia for Guus Hiddink's era.
  • Song urged for a "major overhaul" of the KFA, stating that the resignation of its president is insufficient to address the deep-seated issues.

Following the national football team's failure to advance to the Round of 32 in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Rep. Song Young-gil has sharply criticized the Korea Football Association (KFA), labeling it the "biggest enemy" of South Korean football.

Song expressed disappointment with the team's performance, particularly citing the appointment process of current national team coach Hong Myung-bo as "procedurally unfair." He referenced claims by Kim Jeong-bae, the KFA's standing vice president, that the selection committee meeting was illegitimate, and suggested that Hong himself has implicitly acknowledged the compromised nature of his appointment.

The biggest enemy of South Korean football is the Korea Football Association.

— Song Young-gilCriticizing the KFA's role in the sport's struggles.

"The bigger problem is that the KFA lacks any sense of urgency," Song stated, pointing to a recurring pattern of "incompetence and lack of principles." He cited the appointment and subsequent dismissal of coach Jurgen Klinsmann in 2023, the failure to qualify for the Paris Olympics, the controversial appointment of Hong, and the KFA's push to pardon players involved in match-fixing as examples of this ongoing dysfunction.

I miss Coach Hiddink.

— Song Young-gilExpressing nostalgia for the 2002 World Cup era under Guus Hiddink.

Song also criticized the team's performance in their recent match, noting a lack of tactical adjustments and player substitutions despite the need for a win. He argued that the fundamental issue lies not with the coach but with the KFA itself, advocating for a "complete renovation" of the association. "If it cannot be fixed by remodeling, it must be boldly torn down and rebuilt," he asserted, suggesting the KFA requires "major surgery."

The lawmaker expressed nostalgia for the era of Guus Hiddink, who led South Korea to the 2002 World Cup semi-finals. "Coach Hiddink did not curry favor with the association. He stuck to his philosophy and even confronted vested interests when necessary," Song recalled. "When everyone was talking only about technique, he emphasized the importance of physical fitness and selected players based on merit, not name."

The bigger problem is that the KFA lacks any sense of urgency.

— Song Young-gilHighlighting the KFA's perceived inaction and incompetence.

Concluding his remarks, Song stated that the true adversaries of South Korean football are not opposing teams but "cartels, lack of principles, and an irresponsible KFA." He called for more than just the resignation of KFA president Chung Mong-gyu, who announced his intention to step down after the World Cup, demanding a "grand reform" to return South Korean football to the public.

If it cannot be fixed by remodeling, it must be boldly torn down and rebuilt. The KFA has reached a point where it requires such major surgery.

— Song Young-gilAdvocating for radical reform within the KFA.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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