South Korea begins soccer reform after World Cup fallout

SEOUL — The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of South Korea launched the K-Football Innovation Committee in early July, appointing former national team player and current member of FIFA's standing committee Park Ji-sung and (South) Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, or KSOC, President Ryu Seung-min as its cochairs.

Holding its inaugural meeting in Seoul in early July, the K-Football Innovation Committee was attended by 10 members.

This list included Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young, Vice-Minister Kim Dae-hyun, Secretary General of the (South) Korean Professional Football League Cho Yeon-sang, and several former soccer players among others.

Culture Minister Chae, who had initially been expected to serve as cochair, said he would step aside and appoint Ryu in his place to ensure the committee's independence from the government.

"With Ryu and Park, the K-Football Innovation Committee would encourage football figures and sports expertise to lead the conversation while the government provides support from behind to build the future of (South) Korean football," said Chae.

The committee comes in response to widespread criticism of the (South) Korea Football Association after South Korea's 34th-place finish at the World Cup.

South Korea opened Group A with a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic but then lost 1-0 to Mexico and 1-0 to South Africa, finishing third and failing to qualify for the round of 32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams.

The expanded 48-team tournament had raised expectations that South Korea would reach the knockout stage, with local media labeling the squad a "golden generation" headlined by former Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min, Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in and Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae.

The South Africa defeat became the flash point, and team coach Hong Myung-bo was criticized for leaving Son out of the starting lineup, bringing him on at halftime with the score at 0-0.

He later said he had planned to use him when South Africa tired, but that he would do things differently had he known how the match would turn out.

Following South Korea's exit at the World Cup, President Lee Jae-myung said on June 28 on the X platform that he was "utterly baffled" by the elimination, blaming it on personnel decisions.

He said factionalism or loyalty had been prioritized over competence, and asked the sports ministry to investigate and propose measures to prevent a recurrence.

Hong resigned shortly after South Korea was eliminated from the World Cup, saying the responsibility rests with him.

Fans booed Hong at the airport when the team arrived in Seoul on June 29, while applauding the players. Some held banners saying: "South Korean football is dead."

'Time for change'

The culture minister said that a committee comprising prominent figures from the sports community will be established to examine the causes of South Korea's disappointing performance.

Park said the result showed that it was time for change.

"(South) Korean football has had its ups and downs, but always did its best. The recent World Cup games proved that things have to change," he said.

"I am grateful to be a part of the first steps to a positive change. I am a former soccer player, and for that I have the responsibility as a footballer to see how the innovations should be made, not only from a player's perspective, but also by considering if our discussed solutions are applicable," he added.

Another cochair Ryu stressed that neither his involvement nor the KSOC's would affect personnel issues or how the national team operates.

"My role is to seek ways for (South) Korean sports to move forward. The committee will listen to what the sports experts have to share so that the public can applaud and encourage (South) Korea Football Association and the players," he said.

The committee will serve on a temporary basis until a new executive board of KFA is established.

The committee was officially launched hours after Chung Mong-gyu, national football chief, stepped down after 13 and a half years at the helm.

Chung had announced in May that he would resign after the FIFA World Cup, but did not specify when he would leave.

Chung appears to have brought forward his resignation following South Korea's earlier-than-expected group-stage exit from the World Cup and its aftermath, including head coach Hong's resignation.

THE KOREA HERALD-AGENCIES