Police investigating whether there was improper interference in the appointment process of former national soccer team coach Hong Myung-bo have launched raids on the Korea Football Association.
According to police on the 6th, the Financial Crimes Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Major Crimes Division has been executing search warrants since 9 a.m. this day by sending investigators to the Korea Football Association in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, and to Soccer Hall in Jongno District, Seoul. The warrants reportedly cite charges including obstruction of business.
Earlier, the civic group Committee for the Protection of Ordinary People's Livelihoods filed a complaint in connection with the appointment of the national team coach, accusing former coach Hong and former association president Chung Mong-gyu of coercion, intimidation, obstruction of business, and breach of duty. The core allegation is that senior officials of the association, including President Chung, improperly intervened in the hiring process, and that there is potential breach of duty regarding the payment of Hong's compensation.
Jongno Police Station in Seoul received related complaints and opened an investigation starting in Jul. 2024, when Hong was appointed, but failed to reach a conclusion for about two years.
The case was transferred to the Financial Crimes Investigation Unit on the 1st of last month, and on the 4th of this month, former coach Hong was summoned and questioned as a suspect.