Former Soccer Star Alleges Irregularities in South Korean Coach Selection, Sparking Controversy

SEOUL, Jul. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – Park Joo-ho, a former South Korean national soccer team player, has ignited a firestorm of controversy by alleging irregularities in the recent selection process for the national team’s head coach.

Park, who served on the Korea Football Association’s (KFA) technical committee responsible for choosing the new coach, made his claims through his personal YouTube channel, drawing both support from fans and a stern rebuke from the KFA. 

As of 5 p.m. on July 9, Park’s video detailing the alleged issues in the coach selection process had garnered over 10,000 supportive comments and exceeded 1.7 million views. This marks a significant departure from his usual viewership, which typically ranges from 50,000 to 200,000 views per video. 

In his July 8 video, Park made several explosive claims about the selection process.

He alleged that the interim coach was chosen by majority vote without proper discussion, that some committee members aspired to the interim coaching position themselves, and that there was a bias against foreign coaches.

Park went so far as to suggest that the five-month deliberation process seemed tailored to favor the selection of a domestic coach. 

The KFA’s technical director, Lee Im-saeng, defended the selection process in a briefing, stating, “We respected the existing technical committee and obtained consent from five members who participated via Zoom meeting.”

Lee added, “There were no procedural issues. However, we feared that reconvening the committee might lead to information leaks to outsiders or the press.”

Park, however, painted a different picture. “I really didn’t know. I thought Hong Myung-bo wasn’t in the running because he kept saying he wouldn’t do it,” Park said.

He expressed his disillusionment with the committee’s work, saying, “It seems the technical committee won’t be needed anymore. What did we do for five months? It feels pointless. I think I should quit.” 

According to Park, when he suggested a more thorough examination of domestic coaches if that was the association’s preference, he was met with resistance. “Externally, they seemed to want a foreign coach, but that wasn’t the reality,” he asserted. 

The KFA swiftly responded with a statement criticizing Park’s claims. “A member of the national team’s technical committee has distorted the committee’s activities and the coach selection process from his subjective viewpoint,” the statement read.

It further accused Park of diminishing the efforts of other committee members and the committee itself through his “biased personal perspective.” 

A KFA official, speaking to the press, suggested that Park’s YouTube revelations might constitute a breach of confidentiality agreement. “We are internally discussing the possibility of legal action,” the official stated. 

The KFA’s threat of legal action has galvanized soccer fans to rally behind Park. Many have flocked to his YouTube channel, leaving supportive comments and calling for the protection of whistleblowers.

 

“We must protect Park Joo-ho,” one netizen wrote, while another declared, “I just subscribed to Park’s channel because the KFA said they would sue.” 

While Park’s channel has been inundated with support, the KFA’s official social media accounts have faced a barrage of criticism from angry fans. 

This controversy comes on the heels of the KFA’s July 7 announcement naming Hong Myung-bo, the current coach of Ulsan HD, as the new head coach of the national team.

Hong’s contract is reported to extend through the Asian Cup, scheduled for January-February 2027 in Saudi Arabia.

Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)