KFA head grilled by lawmakers over appointment of Hong, Klinsmann

KFA Chairman Chung Mong-gyu was grilled by the National Assembly’s sports committee Tuesday over perceived irregularities during the appointments of Korean national team manager Hong Myung-bo and his predecessor Jurgen Klinsmann.

KFA Chairman Chung Mong-gyu, center, speaks during the parliamentary committee on culture, sports and tourism at the National Assembly in western Seoul on Tuesday. [YONHAP]

KFA Chairman Chung Mong-gyu was grilled by the National Assembly’s sports committee Tuesday over perceived irregularities during the appointments of Korean national team manager Hong Myung-bo and his predecessor Jurgen Klinsmann.

Chung Mong-gyu appeared before a hearing at the National Assembly’s sports committee in western Seoul alongside former KFA National Team Committee Head Chung Hae-sung, KFA Technical Director Lee Lim-saeng, former KFA National Team Committee member Park Joo-ho and other related officials to answer questions about Hong's appointment.

The appointment of Hong has drawn criticism from Korean football fans since it was announced on July 7, not only because KFA Technical Director Lee allegedly bypassed the National Team Committee in charge of the selection to appoint Hong on his own, but also because the coach took the offer despite previously indicating that he would reject the job.

Lawmaker Kang Yu-jung asked Chairman Chung to comment on a PowerPoint slide from the KFA that showed the career highlights of three manager candidates: Hong, Gus Poyet and David Wagner. The slide was intended to help inform members of the national team selection committee.

But while the slide had a broadly positive evaluation of Hong, saying that he has displayed a football style that matches what the KFA seeks and has made constant improvements as coach, the comments on the two foreign managers were far less sympathetic.

Korean national team manager Hong Myung-bo speaks during the parliamentary committee on culture, sports and tourism at the National Assembly in western Seoul on Tuesday. [NEWS1]

The slide said that Poyet’s tactics are not what the KFA wants and he has not made any achievements as manager. But Poyet led Brighton to promotion to the Championship as League One champions in the 2010-11 season.

As for Wagner, it said that he has no experience as national team manager and that the KFA is worried whether Korean players will adapt to his highline style of play.

Wagner has not helmed a national team, but did lead Huddersfield to promotion to the Premier League for the 2017-18 season.

Kang asked Chung to comment on what appeared to be clear favoritism from the KFA, but Chung maintained that the KFA was not pushing Hong as the lead candidate.

“We were unable to disclose and explain everything about the manager negotiation processes, not because we were trying to hide the truth or hatch a plot,” Chung said. “We were also not trying to appoint a particular figure through an unfair procedure.

“National Team Committee Head Chung Hae-sung once asked me whether I wanted a Korean or foreign manager. I said the National Team Committee needs to discuss what factors the national team needs right now and pick the person that it needs the most.”

Lawmaker Lee Ki-heon accused Chung of having an undue influence over the appointment of Klinsmann in February last year.

Lee said Chung pushed former National Team Committee Head Thomas Muller to unilaterally take charge of the appointment process even before the committee was formed. He also showed a slide from the KFA which he claimed showed that Klinsmann was already the frontrunner before the committee even met.

Klinsmann was appointed as Korea manager last year and fired in February after a disastrous run. Hong was appointed in July after a lengthy search.

Hong has already coached two national team matches in the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers earlier this month that ended with a goalless draw against Palestine and 3-1 win over Oman. The two results drew criticism from fans as he seemed to lack tactical awareness and rely on players’ individual abilities.

This is Hong’s second spell at the helm of the national team after his one-year stint from 2013 to 2014, during which the Taeguk Warriors exited the 2014 World Cup in the group stage after recording zero wins for the first time since the 1998 tournament.

Despite now having had the job for two months, Hong still maintains that he never wanted it.

“The toughest moment in my 40 years of football career is 10 years ago when I finished the 2014 World Cup,” Hong said on Tuesday. “I know how tough the national team job is, so I did not want to go; no, I wanted to run away from it. But when Lee Lim-saeng came to my house and talked with me, I couldn’t neglect the difficulties that the Korean football is facing.”

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]