Allegations raised over Hong Myung-bo's coaching license acquisition

People Power Party lawmaker Jin Jong-oh speaks at the National Assembly's press briefing room on Tuesday, calling for the resignation of the Korea Football Association's top leadership and an investigation into the selection process for national team head coach Hong Myung-bo, in connection with the national team's World Cup results. [Yonhap]
People Power Party lawmaker Jin Jong-oh speaks at the National Assembly's press briefing room on Tuesday, calling for the resignation of the Korea Football Association's top leadership and an investigation into the selection process for national team head coach Hong Myung-bo, in connection with the national team's World Cup results. [Yonhap]

By Jung Seok-jun, The Herald Business

People Power Party lawmaker Jin Jong-oh said Tuesday he had received a tip that video evidence exists showing the Korea Football Association illegally rigged its electoral college to elect its president.

Speaking on MBC Radio that day, Jin said his office had been running a corruption tip center even before the current controversy. "It wasn't just about football — we had been monitoring and paying attention to everything related to culture and the arts as well," he said.

"Because the president is chosen through an indirect election system, there is a tip that video exists showing the electoral college was assembled illegally, tailored to their own preferences," Jin said. "I am now preparing to obtain that material."

He cautioned, however, that "for now, this is a one-sided tip, so we cannot treat it as established fact," while adding that the situation "confirms that the KFA had already formed a cartel around the president and the presidential structure."

Jin also called for the full resignation of the KFA's top leadership. He said KFA President Chung Mong-gyu should, before stepping down, quickly work with the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee to revise the election system to a direct popular vote. "That would be the right way for him to retire — helping Korean football run smoothly through the upcoming Asian Games and Asian Cup, and then stepping down," Jin said.

Jin also raised questions about how Hong Myung-bo obtained his Pro coaching license from the Asian Football Confederation. "People who go through the normal process to earn that license are said to need at least four to five years," he said. "I heard at a parliamentary inquiry that Hong obtained it in about two and a half to three years. There are required training hours involved, and I asked for clarification because I wanted the public to know how that was possible."


mp1256@heraldcorp.com