South Korea's Football Association implicated in referee bribery scandal

South Korean authorities have disclosed evidence that the Korea Football Association (KFA) paid sexual services to foreign referees during international matches in 2011‑2012. The findings, confirmed in a 2016 audit by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, detail seven instances in which the KFA used corporate credit cards to purchase services for referees overseeing three World Cup qualifiers, three Olympic qualifiers and one friendly match. The alleged payments, ranging from a few hundred thousand won to over one million won, occurred under former KFA president Cho Chung Yun, who led the federation from 2009 to 2013.

A KFA official quoted to JTBC said the practice could be “a common practice, even more prevalent abroad.” Critics, including commentator Park Moon‑Sung, called the revelations “a disgrace” and urged accountability. The KFA has said verifying the old documents is difficult because the retention period has expired, but it announced it will strengthen internal management of such expenditures.

The scandal has sparked public outrage in South Korea and raised questions about the integrity of the nation’s football governance.