Seoul: The parliamentary sports committee has announced plans to hold a hearing on the Korea Football Association (KFA) later this month, amid ongoing controversy over its management following South Korea's early exit from this year's FIFA World Cup. This decision was made during a plenary session of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, which agreed to convene the hearing on July 22.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the committee's chair, Rep. Lee Jae-jung of the ruling Democratic Party, emphasized the need to address various issues concerning the appointment process of the national football team's head coach and the overall management of the KFA. The hearing aims to explore solutions for normalizing the federation's operations. A list of 13 witnesses and 10 additional individuals has been finalized to provide testimony at the hearing.
Notably, former head coach Hong Myung-bo and Chung Mong-gyu, who resigned as the head of the national football federation earlier this week, are included among those called to testify. Hong, who stepped down on June 28 following the team's elimination, has confirmed his attendance and willingness to answer all questions.
The KFA has expressed its intention to cooperate with the parliamentary procedure, noting that active KFA officials selected as witnesses will be present at the session. Among the 13 witnesses, four remain with the KFA, including Vice President Lee Yong-soo and Executive Director Kim Seung-hee. Additionally, national team captain Son Heung-min and player Hwang Hee-chan are also slated to testify.
The session was conducted without participation from lawmakers of the main opposition People Power Party, who are boycotting committee meetings in protest against the Democratic Party's unilateral election of chairs for 10 parliamentary standing committees and a special budget committee.