The National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee will hold a hearing on the Korea Football Association on July 22.
The committee voted Thursday to adopt a plan for the hearing at a plenary session, along with other agenda items.
Committee chairwoman Lee Jae-jeong of the Democratic Party of Korea said the hearing would allow the National Assembly to examine problems in the national team coaching appointment process and the KFA's overall management, and to explore ways to normalize the association.
Lee Jeong-mun, a Democratic Party lawmaker appointed as the committee's floor leader, said public disappointment and concern over the situation surrounding the KFA were "extremely high" and pledged that the committee would lead reform efforts to restore fairness and trust in sports administration.
The session also finalized a list of 13 witnesses and 10 reference persons to be called to the hearing.
Those designated as witnesses include KFA President Chung Mong-gyu, former national team head coach Hong Myung-bo, former KFA technical director Lee Im-saeng, KFA Vice President Lee Yong-su, former national team performance enhancement committee chairman Jung Hae-seong, KFA executive director Kim Seung-hee, and former KFA vice presidents Choi Young-il and Park Hang-seo.
The reference person list includes Park Ji-sung, a FIFA committee member and co-chair of the K-Football Innovation Committee, Korean Sport and Olympic Committee President Yoo Seung-min, and innovation committee members and football commentators Lee Young-pyo and Park Joo-ho.
Son Heung-min of LAFC and Hwang Hee-chan of Wolverhampton Wanderers, both of whom played in the 2026 North America World Cup, were also named as reference persons.
Whether all the witnesses and reference persons will actually attend remains uncertain.
Democratic Party lawmaker Jo Gye-won said at the session that key figures — including former KFA president Chung and former coach Hong — had resigned one after another and some had gone abroad, making it likely they would avoid appearing when summoned.
If the hearing proceeds, it is expected to focus heavily on the appointment processes of former coaches Jurgen Klinsmann and Hong, as well as allegations of opaque, backroom operations at the association.
According to an audit by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Klinsmann's appointment in February 2023 was made after the national team performance enhancement committee — the body responsible for overseeing such decisions — had been effectively sidelined.
When Hong was subsequently appointed, it was confirmed that Lee Im-saeng, then technical director, recommended coaching candidates despite having no authority to do so, and that the interview process lacked transparency.
Meanwhile, the People Power Party boycotted Thursday's plenary session in protest of the Democratic Party's unilateral election of chairs for 11 standing and special committees.
mp1256@heraldcorp.com
