South Korea football federation faces parliamentary hearing over World Cup loss and credit‑card scandal
South Korea’s men’s national soccer team finished 34th at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, prompting a parliamentary hearing on July 30 by the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee. Former head coach Hong Myung‑bo and ex‑KFA chair Chung Mong‑gyu testified, accepting responsibility for the group‑stage elimination.
Hong defended his use of the Korea Football Association corporate credit card, saying all expenditures complied with KFA rules and were for scouting K‑League players and staff meetings. However, investigators disclosed that Hong charged about 14 million won over two years, with more than 37 % of the 37.4 million won total flagged as possible personal spending, despite KFA regulations prohibiting weekend or personal use. The KFA stated that receipts were reviewed monthly and found no misconduct.
During the hearing, Chung admitted he had not fulfilled a pledged 5 billion‑won donation to a football centre and apologized for the federation’s controversies and the World Cup failure. Both officials offered apologies to the public and the team’s players.
Entities: Bundang, Seongnam · Bundang‑gu, Seongnam · Chung Mong‑gyu · Hong Myung-bo · Hong Myung‑bo · Jin Seon-mi · Korea Football Association · National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee · South Korean men's national soccer team · South Korean men’s national soccer team
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 10 SOURCES] The KFA stated that receipts were reviewed monthly and no misconduct was found. (existing)
- [● 10 SOURCES] He was reported to have charged about 14 million won on the KFA corporate card over two years. (existing)
- [● 10 SOURCES] Hong Myung‑bo was head coach of the South Korean men’s national soccer team. (belongs)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Hong resigned after South Korea finished 34th at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (Articles reporting his resignation)
- [DISPUTED] Over 37 % of the 37.4 million won charged on the card was alleged personal spending. (belongs)
- [DISPUTED] KFA regulations forbid use of the corporate card on weekends or for personal expenses. (belongs)
- [DISPUTED] Hong says all his spending complied with KFA regulations and was processed by the association. (belongs)
- [DISPUTED] Hong says weekend expenditures were for scouting K‑League players and staff meetings for the national squad. (existing)
- [● 10 SOURCES] KFA says receipts were reviewed monthly and found no misconduct. (article)
- [● 10 SOURCES] Hong Myung‑bo resigned after South Korea finished 34th at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (belongs)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Hong Myung‑bo plans to provide supporting evidence at a hearing. (article)
- [DISPUTED] Hong Myung‑bo said weekend card use was for scouting K‑League players and staff meetings. (article)