"Senior Reporter Hong Myung-bo led it alone" → "Because Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman) permitted it"... What exactly should we believe?

*This content was translated by AI.

His words contradict each other. Lee Im-saeng, the former KFA Technical Director and key figure in the appointment of former national team coach Hong Myung-bo, retracted his past statement that he led the process himself, claiming instead that it was due to instructions from the association president, and has even submitted an application to join a lawsuit filed in court.

According to recent reports from the football community, Lee Im-saeng, through his legal representative, stated that there exists handwritten material he personally recorded during his meeting with Coach Hong Myung-bo, which contradicts the findings of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism audit. His side submitted an application to join the lawsuit at the Seoul High Court, where an appeal is currently underway between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the KFA, in order to correct false information and rumors.

Previously, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced the results of a special audit on the KFA at the end of 2024, recommending severe disciplinary action against Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman), Vice President Kim Jeong-bae, and former director Lee Im-saeng due to serious procedural violations in the appointment process of Coach Hong Myung-bo. The KFA contested this recommendation by filing an administrative lawsuit but lost at the first instance; the appeal is currently ongoing.

Based on this explanation, it appears that former director Lee Im-saeng has changed his stance to claim that he was merely following superior instructions. According to Lee's legal representative, after interviewing the three final candidates, he conveyed Coach Hong Myung-bo's acceptance to Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman), who reportedly said, "Then let's go with Coach Hong Myung-bo." He further claimed that Vice President Kim Jeong-bae subsequently gave him specific work instructions regarding the announcement of his appointment and contract procedures. The argument that he was simply carrying out the president's orders as the highest-ranking full-time technical executive directly contradicts his earlier statement at the time of the appointment announcement, when he boldly declared that he alone led the selection of the national team coach and would take full responsibility.

Before joining the lawsuit, former director Lee Im-saeng drew public outrage in the football community for what was seen as an irresponsible move to evade National Assembly issues. After South Korea's elimination from the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he failed to appear at a hearing held by the National Assembly Committee on Culture, Sports and Tourism, citing overseas employment as his reason. In response, Lee's side explained that he finally accepted an offer from the Cambodian club Nagaworld FC on June 12, the day the South Korean national team defeated Czechia.

At the time of Coach Hong Myung-bo's appointment, former director Lee raised his voice saying, "I alone led the appointment. I will take full responsibility," and had previously shed tears at a National Assembly inquiry session while announcing his intention to resign. However, just before the hearing intended to uncover the truth, he submitted a non-attendance form citing his new role as director of a Cambodian club and left for overseas. This stands in stark contrast to the actions of former coach Hong Myung-bo, who stayed at his home in the United States and personally appeared at the hearing to demonstrate responsibility.

During the hearing, testimony from former Jeon Ryeok-gang-hwa (Chairman) Jeong Hae-seong also continued. Former director Jeong stated that after narrowing down the three final candidates, he was entrusted with the authority to determine their ranking and decided to place Coach Hong Myung-bo as the top choice. However, after former director Jeong resigned, former director Lee proceeded with the appointment of Coach Hong, sparking major controversy over procedural unfairness.

In response, hearing committee members criticized that "the process of appointing a coach with an annual salary exceeding 2 billion won through a bakery meeting was the very epitome of injustice," but due to former director Lee's absence, they were unable to probe the key details.

Furthermore, it has been reported that there are indications that former director Lee attempted to destroy evidence, such as replacing his phone used immediately after South Korea's elimination from the World Cup group stage. The public criticism toward former director Lee, who repeatedly made excuses and changed his words behind his past claims of taking responsibility, shows no sign of subsiding.

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*This content was translated by AI.