Regarding the delay in handling the complaint against the Korea Football Association over the process of appointing former national soccer team head coach Hong Myung-bo, new National Office of Investigation (NOI) Deputy Minister Hong Seok-ki said, "We will do our best to reach a conclusion as quickly and promptly as possible."
At his first regular press briefing on the 6th, Deputy Minister Hong said, "When investigating a case, there are times when criminal, civil and administrative suits proceed together," and noted, "There are cases where we wait to refer to judgments in cases that proceed first, and there were some such aspects in this case as well."
After former coach Hong was appointed in Feb. 2024, allegations surfaced that Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-gyu improperly intervened in the appointment process. Civic groups filed complaints accusing President Chung and association officials of charges including obstruction of business and abuse of authority.
However, the investigation has not reached a conclusion even two years after the complaint. On Sept. 23 last year, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's investigation deliberation committee also resolved to order Jongno Police Station, which handled the complaint accusing former Korea Football Association technical director-general Lee Im-saeng of obstruction of business, to process the case swiftly.
As controversy grew over the slow investigation, police transferred all eight cases investigated by Jongno Police Station and one additional case received by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the 1st of this month to the agency's Financial Crimes Investigation Unit and are currently investigating.