*This content was translated by AI.
A witness who was summoned for the hearing scheduled for the 22nd by the Korea Football Association (KFA) but submitted a non-appearance letter to the National Assembly has emerged. This is the first case among the 13th witnesses summoned where a non-appearance reason letter was filed. While the National Assembly Act allows a witness not to appear if their reason for non-appearance is accepted, concerns are being raised that this could lead to other key witnesses also failing to appear.
According to the football community on the 15th, former KFA Vice President Park Hang-seo, who accompanied the support team as its leader during the 2026 FIFA World Cup bid for North America and Central America, submitted a non-appearance letter to the National Assembly. The reason cited was his overseas stay during the hearing period. Before the World Cup, Park was appointed as head coach of Kanchanaburi Power FC in Thailand's second division, and after completing the World Cup schedule, he resigned from his vice president role and took charge again at Kanchanaburi. Due to this, he has informed the National Assembly that it would be difficult for him to appear at this hearing.
If the National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee accepts the reason for non-appearance stated by former Vice President Park Hang-seo, he will not need to appear at this hearing. It is reported that he has indicated his willingness to provide answers in writing if necessary. Former Vice President Park was summoned as a witness upon application by Im Oh-kyung and Jin Seon-mi (Rep.). The scope of the inquiry was related to 'World Cup match results and national team operations'. However, there were also evaluations that he was somewhat distant from the core issues of this hearing, such as the selection process for former national team head coach Hong Myung-bo or administrative issues within the KFA.
The issue lies with former KFA Technical Department Executive Vice President Lee Im-saeng, who can be described as one of the core witnesses for this hearing, being in a similar situation to former Vice President Park Hang-seo. Former Vice President Lee assumed the role of technical director at Cambodia's Nagaworld FC on the 7th. While his activities in Cambodia have not yet been made public, he is likely to submit a non-appearance reason letter citing 'local stay' as the reason, just like former Vice President Park. This also aligns with suspicions that his appointment as technical director for the Cambodian club was intended as an escape.
Former Executive Vice President Lee Im-saeng was a key figure in the selection process of former national team head coach Hong Myung-bo. During a briefing on Hong's appointment, he stated, "I told him (Hong Myung-bo) several times why Coach Hong should take over as the national team head coach." He also secured a substantial salary contract (estimated at 2 billion won) for Coach Hong, stating, "While I cannot disclose the amount, I believe Korean coaches should be treated no differently than foreign coaches." At this hearing, a total of six Myeong Ui (Rep.) — Lee Jeong-mun, Im Oh-kyung, Jung Jun-ho, Cho Gye-won, Jin Sun-mi, and Choi Min-hee — applied to summon him as a witness. The scope of the inquiry was 'the circumstances and legality of being granted full authority for the appointment of Coach (Hong Myung-bo)', and there is a possibility that the hearing could proceed without Lee Im-saeng.
Former President Jung Mong-gyu is in the same situation. Having declared his resignation from the presidency before the World Cup, he submitted his resignation letter to the KFA on the 6th, finalizing his departure. However, he has been selected as one of the most critical witnesses for the hearing on current issues at the KFA. The highest number of seven Myeong Ui (Rep.) applied to summon him, and the scope of the inquiry is 'KFA operations, national team head coach appointment issues, and the appropriateness of the timing and background of his resignation'.
However, there is no way to rule out the possibility that President Jung Mong-gyu will also fail to appear at the hearing citing reasons such as 'overseas stay'. Although he has stepped down from his role as KFA president, he continues to serve as HDC Chairman, a member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Executive Committee, and Vice Chairman of the FIFA Commercial and Marketing Advisory Committee. He may travel abroad for related duties and could submit a non-appearance reason letter on that basis.
There are already precedents of non-appearance due to overseas business trips. As President, he was summoned as a witness for the state audit in October 2024 but failed to appear citing an unexpected trip to the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. Prior to that, during the 2022 National Assembly Political Affairs Committee state audit, he also failed to appear citing overseas activities for AFC Asian Cup bidding efforts.
Fortunately, the KFA has announced that current officials such as Vice President Lee Yong-soo and Kim Seung-hui (EVP) director will appear at the hearing, and former head coach Hong Myung-bo has also promised to attend in person. However, with witnesses submitting non-appearance reason letters starting with former Vice President Park Hang-seo, and especially if the proportion of key witnesses increases, the significance of the KFA hearing will inevitably diminish. Of course, the severe backlash from attempts to evade the hearing will fall entirely on the individuals involved.
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*This content was translated by AI.
