The civic group Committee for People's Livelihood said it filed a police complaint against Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-gyu, national soccer team head coach Hong Myung-bo and others, alleging problems with the Korea Football Association's operations and the process of appointing the national team coach.
Kim Sun-hwan, secretary-general of the committee, said on the 2nd that he would file a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency against President Chung, Coach Hong, and former Korea Football Association technical director Lee Lim-saeng on charges including coercion, intimidation, obstruction of business, and breach of duty.
Kim argued that the Strengthening Committee's views were not properly reflected in the process of appointing Coach Hong. He said, "When President Chung and Director Lee appointed Coach Hong, even though the Strengthening Committee conveyed certain points, they ignored them and obstructed the committee's work."
He also raised issues with Coach Hong. The committee argued, "It is a breach of duty because someone who was wholly unqualified deceived and received money," adding, "It is taxpayers' money, so the funds must be recovered."
The committee noted it had already filed complaints against President Chung in 2024, but no conclusion has been reached. The group said, "We also filed complaints against President Chung in 2024, but there has been no conclusion," adding, "It was almost decided, but those at the top buried it at the time."
Meanwhile, complaints related to the Korea Football Association have been transferred to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. Jongno Police Station said the previous day that it referred complaints and accusations related to the Korea Football Association to the Financial Crimes Investigation Unit of the Metropolitan Investigation Brigade at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.
There are eight complaints and accusations related to the football association that Jongno Police Station had handled. After controversy over Coach Hong's appointment in 2024, civic groups and others filed successive complaints against President Chung, Coach Hong and other association officials on charges including obstruction of business, prompting the related investigations.
Police plan to investigate at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency not only allegations surrounding Coach Hong's appointment, but also complaints received regarding the appointment process of former national team head coach Jürgen Klinsmann, by consolidating them.