Rep. Lim Ohkyung of Ruling Party Withdraws Request for Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan as Witnesses at 'Football Association Hearing'

Before Withdrawal, Opposition Lawmaker Jin Jongoh Warns: "Do Not Turn This Into a Political Show"

Assemblywoman Lim Ohkyung of the Democratic Party of Korea initially requested Son Heungmin (LAFC) and Hwang Heechan (Wolverhampton) as witnesses for the Korea Football Association hearing, which the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee is scheduled to hold on the 22nd, but later withdrew the request.

On July 10, Assemblywoman Lim explained via Facebook, "I requested the two players as witnesses to hear firsthand the voices of active players who have experienced the systems of the Association, the national team, and overseas football. However, considering the party's opinion and the players' match schedules, I decided to withdraw the request."

South Korea national football team captain Son Heungmin is seen regretting after the team's 0-1 loss to South Africa in the third match of Group A in the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup held at Monterrey Stadium in Mexico on the 24th of last month (local time). Photo by Yonhap News

During a plenary session the previous day, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee adopted the 'Implementation Plan for the Korea Football Association Hearing,' and named 13 individuals, including former KFA President Chung Monggyu and former national team manager Hong Myungbo, as witnesses for the hearing to be held on the 22nd.

Additionally, the committee confirmed 10 people as witnesses, including players Son Heungmin and Hwang Heechan; Park Jisung, co-chair of the 'K-Football Innovation Committee' and a member of a FIFA subcommittee; and Ryu Seungmin, President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee.

Some have criticized the decision to summon players who are not directly related to the issues under investigation as witnesses for a hearing that aims to examine the selection process for the national team manager and the operations of the Korea Football Association.

Jin Jongoh, a member of the People Power Party and an Olympic gold medalist in shooting, wrote on Facebook the same day, "The hearing should address the Association's lack of transparency and the fairness of the manager selection process," and urged the withdrawal of the witness requests for the two players by saying, "Do not turn football reform into a political show."

Cheon Haram, floor leader of the Reform Party, also commented on Facebook, "Are they trying to divert attention from the Association's incompetence and shortcomings by blaming the World Cup team's poor performance on conflicts between Son Heungmin and manager Hong?"

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