"Led by Senior Reporter Hong Myung-bo" → Disappeared after World Cup disaster → Possible non-appearance at 'maneuver' hearing... The mastermind behind the 'escape-style overseas employment controversy' is chosen

*This content was translated by AI.

The paths of key figures responsible for leading the South Korean national football team to the worst tragedy in history, elimination from the group stage of the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup, are diverging. While former coach Hong Myung-bo has declared a frontal breakthrough by stating his intention to attend the hearing, Lee Im-saeng, who led the selection of the coach, is continuing to go into hiding after securing employment in the Cambodian professional football scene.

Currently, the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee has confirmed that it will hold a KFA hearing on the 22nd and is preparing to investigate allegations of corruption in the operation and coach selection process.

However, even as the hearing date approaches, the attendance of key witnesses remains unclear. It is also known that many reference persons will not attend, raising doubts about its effectiveness. In particular, with former coach Hong Myung-bo, who was selected as a witness at the time the National Assembly pushed for the hearing, staying in the United States and former director Lee Im-saeng residing in Cambodia, attention is focused on whether they will actually appear.

Under the current National Assembly Testimony and Expertise Act, hearings do not have coercive power such as a summons order, unlike national audits or state investigations. Therefore, witnesses residing abroad can submit a statement of non-appearance.

For now, former coach Hong Myung-bo first stated his intention to appear. On the 9th, through the Hong Myung-bo Scholarship Foundation, former coach Hong said, "Although I took on the heavy responsibility of being the national team coach, I could not deliver the results that the people expected at the World Cup." He added, "All responsibility for these results lies with me as the coach. I failed to repay expectations and support, causing disappointment and pain to many people. As a coach, I take this responsibility heavily and apologize deeply once again."

Regarding his stay in the United States, he explained that it was due to concerns for personal safety, stating, "If a hearing is held, I believe that place will be where I explain the World Cup results to the people. If so, the person who should stand there is me as the coach. Since all responsibility for the results lies solely with me as the coach, if a hearing is held, I will bear the responsibility I must shoulder as a coach until the end." He clearly stated his intention to attend the National Assembly hearing.

In addition, four KFA officials listed on the witness roster, including current Vice Presidents Lee Yong-soo and Kim Byung-ji who are active within the association, have announced their intention to appear at the hearing. However, former Chairman Jeong Mong-gyu and Lee Im-saeng, the key figure who led the selection process of former coach Hong, have not yet taken a clear stance. Although both former director Lee and former Chairman Jeong Jeon (Chairman) are required to attend, it cannot be ruled out that they will submit non-appearance statements citing schedules or health issues and hold their ground.

In particular, after the World Cup elimination, former director Lee completely hid himself without appearing at any official stage amidst fierce criticism from the football community. Although it was recently revealed that he attended a private event, he showed behavior evading responsibility by avoiding public eyes, and eventually left Korea by taking up the position of Technical Director at Cambodian professional club Nagaworld FC without offering even a single apology.

Even though former director Lee quietly left for overseas, fans' anger has not subsided. Currently, on the official YouTube channel of the club where he is employed, Nagaworld, complaints from Korean fans gathering to criticize him are pouring in. The view count of the club's most recent post, which was previously only in the hundreds, has surpassed 1,000 since former director Lee took office, and the comment section is filled with boos from Korean fans directed at him.

The reason fans are so angry is due to former director Lee's authoritarian behavior during the coach selection process and allegations of perjury. During a previous inquiry by the National Assembly's Culture Committee, former director Lee shed tears while pleading his innocence, but it was eventually revealed that he lied to the National Assembly, leading to his indictment on charges of perjury.

At that time, regarding the National Assembly's question about who accompanied him during the national team commander interview session, former director Lee answered, "It was a bakery coach Hong often visits, so we met alone from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m." In an official briefing, he also emphasized full authority by stating that he met Coach Hong of his own will and decision, saying, "The entire process of coach selection was conducted alone."

However, investigation results confirmed that Vice President Choi Young-il of the KFA, who had worked with former coach Hong for a long time at the association, was present at the interview session. With Vice President Choi acknowledging his presence, former director Lee's claim of a private meeting was revealed as clear perjury. When the allegations surfaced, former director Lee shed tears and announced his intention to resign, saying, "My reputation is at stake."

The key person who held and wielded full authority over coach selection has left for Cambodia and disappeared, while the administrative head hides behind a name and passes time in silence. While former coach Hong has announced his intention to attend the hearing and show determination for a frontal breakthrough, it remains to be seen whether former director Lee will return to Korea and take the stage at the hearing.

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*This content was translated by AI.