Co-chair Park Ji-sung of the K-football innovation committee defined the committee's role as "presenting a direction to restore the trust that Korean football has lost," while stressing changes at the Korea Football Association and democratic management.
The K-football innovation committee, co-chaired by Park Ji-sung, a Commissioner on a FIFA standing committee, and Ryu Seung-min, president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC), held its first meeting on the 6th at Olympic Parktel in Songpa-gu, Seoul, and began full-fledged activities.
After the first meeting, Chairperson Park met with reporters and said, "Today we discussed the role of the innovation committee and how it will be run," adding, "Commissioners agreed that, for Korean football to regain the trust of the public and fans, many football people must participate and the election for president of the football association must be held through democratic procedures."
Chairperson Park went on to explain, "Under the grave awareness that the current system will not work, the football association will actively accept and review the matters discussed by the innovation committee, and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) will also provide active administrative support."
However, he drew a line on the committee's authority. Chairperson Park said, "What is discussed by the innovation committee does not necessarily carry binding force that must be implemented," adding, "The innovation committee has a strong advisory nature."
Chae Hwi-young, Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is also participating as a Commissioner on this innovation committee. Chairperson Park also shared a view on concerns that the minister's participation could be interpreted as government interference prohibited by FIFA.
Chairperson Park said, "As a football person, that was the first thing I thought of as well, and of course such a thing must not happen," stressing, "The innovation committee is not a body that intervenes politically to do something." He added, "What we consider most important is creating an initial stage in which Korean football can restore the trust it has lost from fans."
Minister Chae explained that, in forming the innovation committee, Commissioners were appointed from among those who will not run in the next election for president of the football association.
On this, Chairperson Park said, "If someone participated in the innovation committee with running for association president in mind, it would not be fair," adding, "All Commissioners clearly recognized that point and participated." He reiterated, "In the current situation, what the innovation committee can do is present directions that the current association finds difficult to pursue and help Korean football restore trust."