*This content was translated by AI.
Ahead of the hearing by the Korea Football Association, submissions for non-appearance reasons continue from key witnesses and reference persons. Accordingly, there is hope for a substantive hearing that focuses entirely on identifying the responsibilities of core parties holding the real keys to the situation, rather than summoning peripheral figures who are not essential.
According to an exclusive report by Money Today on the 15th, former Vice President of the Korea Football Association Park Hang-seo, who was selected as a witness for the hearing to be held by the National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee on the 22nd, and Park Ju-ho, member of the K-Football Innovation Committee (former Director of Team Strengthening) who was listed as a reference person, have submitted non-appearance reason documents to the National Assembly.
The former Vice President, who served as team leader for the South Korean national team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America and Mexico, has been appointed as head coach of Chanthaburi Power FC (Thai League 2) and stated that attendance is difficult due to his stay schedule in Thailand. However, he added that he would be willing to provide answers in writing if required by the National Assembly.
Under the National Assembly Act, hearing witnesses are obligated to appear and may be punished for unauthorized non-appearance without valid reason. However, if there are unavoidable circumstances such as overseas residence, submission of a non-appearance reason document can substitute for physical appearance. Park Ji-sung and Park Ju-ho, who hold the status of reference persons with no binding force, have also expressed their intention not to appear.
As news of some reference persons' non-appearance spread, public opinion is instead showing understanding. This is because there has been criticism that calling active players as reference persons for a session dealing with issues in the national team's administration and system was merely a showy summons. With non-administrative figures being removed, it is naturally aligning with the essence of the hearing.
Previously, National Team stars Son Heung-min (LAFC) and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers), who drew attention by appearing on the reference person list, are now confirmed to be absent due to realistic scheduling conflicts. Son Heung-min has MLS matches scheduled with his club around the time of the hearing, while Hwang Hee-chan is also facing the start of Wolverhampton's pre-season schedule and is about to play his first match on the 22nd.
Consequently, attention toward the hearing narrows down to whether key current and former officials of the Football Association will appear, as they are responsible for causing this incident.
Although some express concern about the effectiveness of the hearing due to a reduced number of reference persons and witnesses, it is positively expected that this will prevent questioning time from dragging on and provide more time to intensely interrogate the actual persons responsible for the administrative disaster at the Football Association.
Previously, former coach Hong Myung-bo stated he would appear before the National Assembly through a scholarship foundation to take responsibility, and four current officials including Vice Presidents Lee Yong-soo and Kim Byeong-ji also announced their intention to appear. However, the most critical figures, Jeong Mong-gyu Jeon (Chairman) and former Technical Director Lee Im-saeng, have not yet clearly stated their positions.
The National Assembly is expected to intensely question Jeong Mong-gyu Jeon (Chairman) regarding the operational status of the Football Association and the background for his resignation following the controversy over coach appointments. For former director Lee Im-saeng, plans are in place to interrogate procedural flaws and perjury allegations that emerged during the appointment of former coach Hong. However, the former director has already departed Cambodia after taking up a position as technical director at Nagaworld FC.
Although the stage for the hearing has narrowed due to consecutive non-appearances by reference persons, its essence has become clearer. Public opinion is wary of this hearing becoming a 'meaningless hearing' filled with non-essential figures while demanding that actual persons responsible for the administrative disaster at the Football Association take the witness stand and provide clear explanations.
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*This content was translated by AI.
