"Jung Mong-gyu did well," the cowardice of those shouting, no one is "resigning together"

*This content was translated by AI.

It was last May. Ahead of the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup, then-President Jung Mong-gyu suddenly announced his resignation. He said, "I am well aware that there have been various controversies and criticisms during my tenure leading the Football Association," adding, "I believe all of this is due to my own moral failings. I intend to step down from the position of Football Association President after the World Cup." And indeed, on the 6th, upon submitting his resignation letter to the Korea Football Association (KFA), his resignation was confirmed. Although he succeeded in securing a fourth term after being inaugurated as the 52nd President in 2013, it was an "unhonorable departure" where he left before completing his fourth term.

Under the Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman) regime, controversies surrounding the KFA never ceased. The crowd's shouts of "Jung Mong-gyu out" echoing at A-match stadiums and scenes of Jeong (Chairman) appearing before the National Assembly to explain during national audits showed just how serious the situation had become. Ultimately, Jeong (Chairman) stepped down, stating, "All shortcomings and faults are entirely my responsibility." Although he did not bow his head directly in front of fans, he put a period on the 13th-year-long Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman) regime himself.

However, since Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman) stepped down, voices have continued across the football community defending President Jung Mong-gyu. For instance, Baek Hyun-sik, President of the Busan Football Association, sparked controversy in an interview with KBS by saying, "The issue of appointing coaches or (football-related) pardon issues for match-fixing offenders were not substantial flaws of Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman). I do not think Mr./Ms. Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman) did anything wrong."

Seo Kang-il, President of the Jeonbuk Football Association, who also sparked controversy with his outrageous interview remarks such as "What do Park Ji-sung and Lee Young-pyo know? How long have they lived, and how much social experience do they have to lead an innovation committee?" likewise insisted that "Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman) is not someone who should be criticized to this extent." It is expected that the views of many football figures who supported Jeong (Chairman) during the fierce controversies surrounding Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman) in the past presidential election, which have yet to surface, are not significantly different. In February last year, Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman)'s approval rating reached a staggering 85.6%.

However, these individuals share a commonality. While they defend President Jung Mong-gyu Jeon (Chairman), claiming he did nothing wrong, no one is willing to accompany him in his "unhonorable departure" where he himself took responsibility. Although resigning together with Jeong (Chairman) could serve as the strongest protest message against public opinion and an expression of loyalty that could be shown to Jeong (Chairman), not a single person has chosen to "resign together."

For instance, Seo Kang-il, President of the Jeonbuk Football Association, revealed his blind loyalty toward Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman) by stating things like "Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman) did not have 13 years of rule but 13 years of sacrifice," or "Everyone makes trial and error in life except God." He had publicly declared support for Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman) during the election for the 55th President last year. Along with Baek Hyun-sik, President of the Busan City Football Association, Kang Sung-deok, President of the Chungbuk Football Association, Park Seong-wan of Chungnam Nam Chuk-gu-hyeop (Chairman), Kim Soon-gong, President of the Sejong City Football Association, Lee Seok-jae of Gyeonggi Do Chuk-gu-hyeop (Chairman), Im Jong-seong, President of the Gyeongbuk Football Association, Kwon Eun-dong of Gangwon Do Chuk-gu-hyeop (Chairman), and Yoon Il of Jeju Island Football Association are the city and provincial football association presidents who publicly declared support for Jeong (Chairman) alongside Seo (Chairman) at that time.

It is not just that. At the time of Seo Gang-il (Chairman)'s inauguration as President of the Jeonbuk Football Association, then-candidate Jung Mong-gyu Jeon (Chairman) even traveled to Jeonju, Jeonbuk. Recently, it was revealed through an interview that he accompanied Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman) all the way to the North American World Cup and even received support for accommodation and meals from the Football Association. Amidst this, while Seo Gang-il (Chairman) blindly criticizes the members of the K-Football Innovation Committee and defends Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman), he is still holding onto his position as President of the Jeonbuk Football Association. Instead of making the decision to resign together with Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman), he has even left open the possibility of running for the presidential election again.

Of course, the situation is expected to remain largely unchanged in the future. Even within the KFA, it is difficult to find anyone who publicly announced their resignation following President Jung Mong-gyu's Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman)'s "unhonorable departure." The only exception was Vice President Park Hang-seo, who resigned after the World Cup, but since his appointment as head coach of a Thai second-division team had already been confirmed before the World Cup, it was a resignation that was already planned. It is expected that voices will continue across the football community in the future defending the departed Jung Mong-gyu Jeon (Chairman) and protecting their own vested interests, likely drawing a line where they preserve their positions as they have done so far, rather than shouting about sacrificing their own posts.

The fact that no one has made the decision to resign together since Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman)'s departure could mean either that the leadership of Jeong (Chairman), who led Korean football for 13 years, was only at that level, or that the football figures who followed Jeong (Chairman) were that cowardly. Fortunately, thanks to shouts emerging from various places that are detached from public opinion claiming "Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman) did nothing wrong," the targets for reforming Korean football are also taking shape.

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*This content was translated by AI.