Police raid KFA amid Hong Myung-bo probe in Corea del Sur

Police trucks lined the streets of Cheonan as officers burst into the Korean Football Association’s (KFA) headquarters, their flashlights cutting through the night and the scent of tension thick in the air. The raid, part of a wider investigation, targeted the core of South Korea’s football administration.

Football in Corea del Sur remains on swampy ground after the conclusion of the Mundial 2026, with the sport’s reputation under intense scrutiny. The recent police operation underscores how the fallout from the World Cup continues to affect the nation’s football landscape.

The raid was coordinated by the Agencia de Policía Metropolitana de Seúl, which launched the operation to probe alleged manipulation in the appointment process of former national coach Hong Myung-bo. Authorities are seeking to determine whether the selection was influenced by improper interference.

According to the state news agency Yonhap, officers entered the central offices in Cheonan, about 90 kilometres from Seúl, and also the administrative headquarters in the capital. They seized dossiers, mobile phones and computers belonging to senior officials of the Federación Surcoreana de Fútbol.

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Local media reported that the Unidad de Investigación de Delitos Financieros executed the search warrants, charging those involved with obstruction of business activity among other offences. The investigation focuses on the financial and procedural aspects of the appointment.

Police are also examining whether the KFA and other entities exerted undue influence over the selection of Hong, who took charge in 2024 and was dismissed after a disappointing campaign in North America. The controversy resurfaces two years after earlier inquiries began.

Police raid KFA as Hong Myung-bo’s World Cup appointment faces probe

The original complaints against Hong Myung-bo alleged coercion, intimidation and breach of trust. Yonhap noted that Hong was summoned as a suspect on 4 March, while investigators also questioned former KFA president Chung Mong-kyu and ex‑coach Lee Im‑saeng for possible irregularities in the selection process.

Government president Lee Jae‑myung described the situation as “absurd” and highlighted the disappointment felt by citizens, pointing to deficiencies in organisation and human resources. The ongoing probe by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency could further affect the administrative operations of the KFA, as noted by both Yonhap and KBS News.