Political circles uniformly voiced criticism over the South Korean national soccer team's elimination in the World Cup group stage. Both the ruling and opposition parties pointed to the Korea Football Association's backroom management and a "cartel structure," raising structural issues across the association's operations. They also said they would discuss measures at the National Assembly level.
On the 29th, Democratic Party floor leader Han Byeong-do said in a leadership meeting that the South Korean national team's World Cup exit was a "foretold disaster." Han said, "Many soccer experts diagnose this poor showing as a foreseen situation," adding, "The problems are the coach's lack of tactics, authoritarian backroom management, and a favoritism-based cartel." He continued, "The national team does not belong to a few individuals like Chung Mong-gyu and Hong Myung-bo; it belongs to all the people," and said, "We will discuss measures at the National Assembly level so the association's arrogance and incompetence do not recur."
Democratic Party chief spokesperson Kang Jun-hyun also said, "Faced with the report card of a round of 32 exit from the World Cup, the public is expressing not only disappointment but anger," and emphasized, "As President Lee Jae-myung said, since taxpayers' money and national support were投入, we must accurately grasp the situation, change what needs to be changed, and hold accountable those who must be held accountable."
Strong criticism also came from the People Power Party. People Power Party lawmaker Jin Jong-oh held a press conference at the National Assembly and said, "This disaster is the result of the association's entrenched-interest cartel, including Chairman Chung Mong-gyu, consistently taking an arrogant attitude," emphasizing, "This is not a matter that can be covered up by a simple resignation; a complete dismantling and rebuilding are needed." He then called for the collective resignation of the Korea Football Association leadership, a fact-finding probe into the coaching appointment process, and a special audit of the Korea Football Association by the government and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC).
Jin added, "We must not use the coach's resignation as a pretext to evade a fact-finding process and secure a free pass," and said, "Even if confusion is inevitable while normalizing abnormalities, such as preparing for next year's Asian Cup, the only solution is the Korea Football Association's complete dismantlement and a reconstruction so thorough it feels like shaving down to the bone."
People Power Party deputy floor leader Kim Seung-su also said, "The Korea Football Association's conduct deserves criticism," adding, "We have continuously pointed out procedural problems and a lack of transparency in the process of appointing the coach, but the association ignored public concerns." He continued, "Going forward, the National Assembly will thoroughly examine every aspect of the association's operations and will press to the end for a sports administration that earns public trust."