Choi Sooyong to Lead Crisis-Hit Gwangju FC... 'Seeking Club Normalization Solutions with Experts'

Acting CEO System Begins September 21

"Contract and Player Reinforcement Issues to Be Reviewed Based on Data"

"Hasty Decisions May Be Perceived as Emotional"

Starting from September 21, Gwangju FC will be operated under the leadership of Choi Sooyong, president of the Gwangju Metropolitan Football Association, who will serve as Acting CEO. Choi announced his plans to form a committee comprised of professionals with expertise in football, sports, administration, and law to review the club’s current issues.

On September 18, in a phone interview with The Asia Business Daily, Acting CEO Choi outlined his plan to establish a provisional “Development Committee” or “Reform Committee” to address the challenges facing the club.

Choi Suyong, Acting CEO of Gwangju FC. Photo provided by Gwangju FC

“I intend to form a committee in the style of a development committee, bringing together experts from professional sports, football, administration, and law,” he said. “Based on their experience, we will discuss the club’s most urgent issues and work swiftly toward solutions that enable Gwangju FC’s growth.”

Currently, Gwangju FC has been struggling with internal conflict and is carrying the ignominy of a 27-match winless streak.

Choi emphasized, “In the planned committee, participation will be sought not only from figures with on-field football experience but also from those with academic and theoretical expertise.”

It has been reported that Acting CEO Choi has discreetly approached some individuals to gauge whether they would be willing to collaborate to address the club’s challenges and find solutions.

Choi added, “For now, I view it as an advisory group, but if the idea becomes more concrete, it will take the form of a committee. We aim to bring together both those rich in field experience and those with theoretical expertise to analyze Gwangju FC’s issues and propose solutions.”

Issues such as player contracts, squad reinforcement, and personnel in the technical area, which have been raised inside and outside the club, will also be reviewed by the committee. Rather than deciding on measures for specific individuals in advance, decisions will be made after compiling accumulated data and work results so far.

Choi said, “There is data and results from what has been done so far. We will collect the various current issues, including matters related to contracts and player reinforcements, and seek solutions through meetings.”

He continued, “As some people have different points of view, we intend to set up a system that allows for diagnosis and prescriptions based strictly on accurate data, in order to prevent any misunderstandings.”

In addition to the speed of reforms, Choi also emphasized the importance of proper procedures and building consensus. He is particularly wary that rushed decisions made to normalize club operations could be perceived as emotional or lead to conflicts with the existing organization.

“When things are pushed ahead rapidly, some may perceive it as emotional,” he said. “To clear up such misunderstandings, we will form a committee comprised of people with experience and expertise, and make decisions only after discussion within the committee.”

He also stated, “The process of reviewing past wrongdoings may be taken emotionally by the existing organization. My personal view is that we must form a committee that everyone can accept and that leaves no room for misunderstanding.”

As a football expert, Choi also expressed his intent to reflect his on-field experience in club management, distinguishing this leadership approach from previous regimes.

“We also have to take into account the sentiment of the local community,” he said. “To differentiate ourselves from previous operations, I intend to approach these matters seriously and with due caution.”

From 1995 to 2025, Choi served as manager of Kumho High School’s football team, which acts as Gwangju FC’s U-18 team, developing young players. He later became the fourth president of the unified Gwangju Metropolitan Football Association, overseeing administrative work such as youth development and expanding the base of football in the region.

Meanwhile, previous CEO Noh Dongil was appointed as the sixth CEO of Gwangju FC in 2022 and led the club, but after the team set the K League 1’s all-time winless record this season and continued to underperform, he resigned before completing his term.

Gwangju FC is also conducting a public recruitment process for the currently vacant position of managing director, in addition to the transition to the Acting CEO system.

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