Hong Myung-bo denies contacting Chung Mong-gyu during manager selection

Former national football team manager Hong Myung-bo has denied allegations of improper communication during his appointment process. During a police investigation conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Financial Crimes Investigation Unit, Hong testified that he had no contact with Chung Mong-gyu, the former president of the Korea Football Association (KFA), regarding his selection.

Hong also stated he had no knowledge of the discussions held by the KFA's Force Strengthening Committee, which was responsible for selecting manager candidates. Regarding allegations of professional breach of trust related to his high salary, Hong testified that his compensation was similar to what he received during his tenure as manager of Ulsan HD.

Police are currently investigating whether high-ranking KFA officials, including former president Chung Mong-gyu and former technical director Lee Im-saeng, improperly intervened in the 2024 manager selection process. Authorities have previously conducted searches of KFA offices to secure relevant documentation and are expected to summon Chung Mong-gyu for questioning following the analysis of seized materials.