"Refusal to Attend Hearing Due to Volunteer Work with Abandoned Animals" Controversy: City and Provincial Football Association Presidents Continuously Notify Non-Attendance

*This content was translated by AI.

City and provincial football association presidents who had previously sparked controversy through praise for former Speaker Chung Mong-gyu or remarks targeting the K-Football Innovation Committee are now notifying non-attendance to the Korea Football Association hearing one after another, reigniting public debate.

According to a recent report by The Dong-A Ilbo, Baek Hyun-sik, President of the Busan Football Association, who was selected as a witness for the Korea Football Association hearing scheduled for the 30th, submitted a non-attendance justification letter to the National Assembly stating, "I am engaged in volunteer work caring for over 200 abandoned animals (in addition to my personal business), making it difficult to leave my post for an extended period, so attendance is not possible."

Park Sung-wan, President of Chungcheongbuk-do Football Association, also notified non-attendance, stating, "I received urgent contact from the National Assembly with insufficient time to adjust my schedule in advance, and I am unable to attend due to already scheduled personal commitments." Their non-attendance justification letters were made public through Kim Seung-su (Rep.), a member of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee under the National Assembly.

These individuals had not been selected as witnesses during the earlier controversy when Son Heung-min (LAFC) and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers) were listed on the witness roster. However, with the hearing date recently postponed to the 30th, and through a cross-party agreement that added five new witnesses during this process, they were newly included in the witness list.

Baek Hyun-sik, President of the Busan Football Association, who cited volunteer work with abandoned animals as the reason for non-attendance at the hearing, had previously sparked controversy by stating, "What did Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman) do so wrong? We should also consider the efforts made over 13 years to advance football." Park Sung-wan, President of Chungcheongbuk-do Football Association, similarly remarked, "Innovation must be pursued through legal and transparent procedures based on the association's articles of association," effectively targeting the K-Football Innovation Committee. The K-Football Innovation Committee, led by Park Ji-sung Gong Dong-wi (Director), has been pushing for amendments such as expanding the electorate for presidential elections and revising regulations to require election within 60 days in case of a vacancy, arguing that a new president should be elected according to the existing articles of association without any changes.

Coincidentally, what these individuals share is that they were members of the electorate who publicly supported candidate Chung Mong-gyu during last year's presidential election. Positive evaluations directed toward Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman), along with the assertion that the next president should be elected according to the existing articles of association without amendments, represent a common stance among established football figures. In fact, there have been rumors circulating in the football community about Baek Hyeon-sik (Chairman) running for the next Korea Football Association presidency.

These individuals, whose claims had already sparked controversy due to their distance from public opinion, could have used the opportunity of attending the National Assembly hearing to more clearly advocate or explain their positions and opinions. However, coincidentally, both submitted non-attendance justification letters just six hours after being selected as witnesses, thereby avoiding the hearing. As they are designated as witnesses rather than testifying witnesses, there is no legal obligation for them to attend the hearing.

Seo Gang-il, President of Jeonbuk Football Association, who also sparked controversy through insulting interviews such as "What do you know to lead the Innovation Committee?" directed at Chairman Park Ji-sung and K-Football Innovation Committee member Lee Young-pyo, has been selected as a witness. It has not yet been disclosed whether he submitted a non-attendance justification letter to the National Assembly, but Seo Gang-il (Chairman) is also highly likely to be absent. The National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee additionally selected former Korea Sports Council President Kim Byung-chul (also serving as Director of the Sports Korea Fair Trade Commission) and former Sports Ethics Center Director Park Ji-young Lee (President) as new witnesses alongside these individuals.

Meanwhile, 15 individuals, including former national team coach Hong Myung-bo and former Speaker Chung Mong-gyu Jeon (Chairman), have been selected as witnesses for the hearing on the Korea Football Association. Former coach Hong Myung-bo, who had departed for the United States, has recently returned to the country and is preparing to attend the hearing. While witnesses are legally obligated to appear, they may avoid penalties if they submit and receive approval for a non-attendance justification letter.

Former Speaker Park Hang-seo, who also serves as Vice President of the Korea Football Association and Head of the North America World Cup Support Unit, submitted a non-attendance justification letter citing his stay abroad. The attendance status of other witnesses, including former Korea Football Association Technical Director Lee Im-saeng, remains undecided. It has been reported that Park Ji-sung and Lee Young-pyo, who were selected as witnesses, along with K-Football Innovation Committee member Park Ju-ho, have notified non-attendance. Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan, whose selection alone had sparked controversy, are no longer part of the process after withdrawing their witness applications.

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*This content was translated by AI.