Song Jun-seop, chief medical officer of the South Korean national football team [Yonhap]
Song Jun-seop, chief medical officer of the South Korean national football team [Yonhap]

As controversy swirls over former South Korean national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo's departure to the United States — with critics calling it an act of evasion — team chief medical officer Song Jun-seop has pushed back, saying "criticism must also be grounded in accurate facts."

Song took to social media on Saturday to write: "When you are at your most worn out, tormented and spent, who do you turn to? Your family."

He said he was deeply saddened by reports describing Hong's trip to Los Angeles as a "flight" from accountability, and asked: "Is going to the embrace of your family really fleeing?"

"All criticism must stay within the bounds of accurate facts for its legitimacy and soundness not to be called into question," Song said. He added that he had spent the night sleepless — whether from jet lag or distress, he was not sure.

Hong left South Korea through Incheon International Airport on Wednesday, bound for Los Angeles. His family is reported to reside in the United States.

At the airport, when reporters asked whether he would attend a parliamentary hearing, Hong said, "I don't know. I don't know what my return date will be."

The National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee is pushing to summon Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-gyu and Hong as witnesses for a hearing, and his departure has fueled suspicions that he left to avoid appearing. While witnesses formally selected for a hearing are in principle required to attend, they may submit a written excuse and stay away. Compelling a witness to appear by force is not possible.

Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Choi Min-hee addressed Hong's departure on Friday via social media, saying she believed "the departure is not an act of fleeing" while stressing that "former coach Hong Myung-bo has an obligation to explain the World Cup results to the public."

MBN reported Saturday that Hong told a close associate before leaving South Korea that he had no plans to return. That associate said Hong had indicated he had "no intention of coming back to Korea" and was not considering attending the parliamentary hearing.


paq@heraldcorp.com