"Hong Myungbo Is Also an Accomplice"... Additional Complaint Filed Against Korea Football Association's Chung Monggyu and Lee Limsaeng

On Charges of Coercion, Intimidation, Obstruction of Work, and Breach of Duty
Committee Says, "Investigation Blocked from Above... Special Prosecutor Needed"

Civic groups are filing an additional police complaint against former national football team coach Myungbo Hong, Korea Football Association President Chung Monggyu, and former Technical Director Limsaeng Lee over the controversy surrounding the appointment process of the former coach.

The Committee for the People's Livelihood (hereinafter referred to as the Committee) announced on July 2 that it would file a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency against President Chung, former Director Lee, and former coach Hong as co-principals on charges of coercion, intimidation, obstruction of work, and breach of duty.

Sohn Hann Kim, Secretary General of the Committee for the Welfare of the Common People, is speaking at a press conference to address issues with the Korea Football Association on the 2nd at the Committee's office in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jiye Lee

This additional complaint comes after the case against President Chung and others, previously investigated by Jongno Police Station, was transferred to the Financial Crime Investigation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. The group aims to question the illegality of appointing a coach without the recommendation and verification process of the Power Enhancement Committee, irregularities in the wage determination process, and responsibility in managing the national team.

The police have investigated eight complaints related to suspicions over the coach’s appointment since July 2024 but have not reached a conclusion. While maintaining that further questioning and legal review are required, controversy over the investigation delay has intensified after the court in the first administrative trial recognized the illegality of the appointment process for the coach, which revolves around the same issues.

Before submitting the complaint on this day, Kim Soonhwan, Secretary General of the Committee, held a press conference at the Committee's office in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, stating, "If you have been investigating for two years, what more is there left to investigate?" He said, "We will file the complaint, but only a special prosecutor can reveal the truth in this case." He added, "This time, we are filing the complaint again to see how the police will respond." Secretary General Kim also raised suspicions that the prolonged investigation without a conclusion after the initial complaint may have been due to intervention by the police leadership. He claimed, "The frontline investigators worked hard, but it seems that the higher-ups blocked proper investigation from taking place."

In the complaint, the Committee alleged that President Chung and former Director Lee violated the association’s articles of incorporation and ethical regulations during the appointment process of former coach Hong, and pushed for the appointment without going through the Power Enhancement Committee. The group also claimed that former coach Hong was jointly involved in the appointment process and the management of the national team, and requested that all three be punished as co-principals.

This is the first time that former coach Hong has been named as a suspect in connection with the controversy over the national team's managerial appointment. Secretary General Kim explained, "We were planning to file a complaint at the time as well, but we thought former coach Hong would step down voluntarily once the audit results were released. Since that did not happen, we are now filing a complaint against him as a co-principal."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.