South Korean parliament questions football leaders over World Cup failure

South Korea's National Assembly grilled former football association leaders Chung Mong-gyu and Hong Myung-bo over the national team's disappointing performance and early exit from the 2026 World Cup. The hearing, convened by the parliamentary Sports Committee, aimed to scrutinize alleged mismanagement and the reasons behind the team's failure to advance from the group stage.

Chung Mong-gyu, who led the Korea Football Association (KFA) for 13 years before resigning on July 6, and Hong Myung-bo, who stepped down as head coach after the team's return to Seoul in late June, appeared as witnesses. Both offered public apologies for the team's results but firmly denied claims of favoritism and a lack of transparency in their respective leaderships.

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After having done everything possible for the development of Korean football during my term, I sincerely apologize for the controversies and the disappointing result in the World Cup.

During the intense questioning, legislators pressed Chung on allegations of preferential treatment towards graduates of Korea University. He refuted these claims, stating that only one of the 25 national team coaches appointed during his tenure came from that university. Hong, while accepting responsibility for the team's poor performance, defended the legitimacy of his appointment in July 2024, addressing reports of a substantial annual salary and denying any personal gain or special treatment.

The parliamentary inquiry follows an investigation launched by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism into the governance of South Korean football. This action was prompted by fan complaints demanding accountability for the World Cup debacle. South Korea was eliminated from Group A, which also included Mexico, South Africa, and the Czech Republic, after securing one win against the Czechs but suffering losses to Mexico and South Africa.

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When I received the offer, I thought the proper procedures had been followed. People may consider that the meeting near my home lacked transparency, but I never sought any special treatment or personal benefit.