South Korea’s football scandal: payments to referees and Hong Myung-bo probe

South Korea’s football federation is facing simultaneous legal and political pressure after reports emerged of payments made to foreign referees between 2011 and 2012, while police raided its offices over a separate investigation into the appointment of former national team manager Hong Myung-bo.

The allegations of payments to referees surfaced from a 2016 government audit and relate to seven matches officiated between March 2011 and March 2012, including qualifiers for the London 2012 Olympics and the Brazil 2014 World Cup. During that period, South Korea remained unbeaten with five wins and two draws. According to the audit by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korea Football Association (KFA) used corporate credit cards to pay for sexual entertainment services at massage parlours and adult venues in Seoul and other host cities.

The report stated that the practice was detected in 2016 but not made public at the time. Former KFA officials told JTBC that such arrangements were “common at the time” and that some referees specifically requested to be taken to adult venues. While prostitution is illegal in South Korea, such establishments are widespread, and international football regulations prohibit any form of financial compensation to referees.

In a separate development, police executed search warrants at the KFA’s headquarters in Cheonan and its administrative office in Seoul as part of an investigation into the appointment of Hong Myung-bo. Officers seized files, mobile phones, and computers from senior officials, which is examining allegations including obstruction of business activities.

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

The probe aims to determine whether the KFA and related entities improperly influenced Hong Myung-bo’s appointment in 2024. He was removed from his position following South Korea’s group-stage exit at the World Cup hosted in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The controversy over his hiring resurfaced two years after the investigation began, triggered by a complaint alleging coercion, intimidation, and breach of trust against Hong. He was summoned for questioning as a suspect on March 4.

Also questioned were former KFA president Chung Mong-kyu and ex-technical director Lee Im-saeng, both considered potentially responsible for irregularities in the selection process. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung linked the team’s poor performance to the federation’s management, stating in a post on X: “I am not only surprised by this unexpected result, but I find it frankly absurd.” He added that the outcome had disappointed citizens and appeared to stem from deficiencies in organisation and human resources.

The president’s remarks added to the pressure on a leadership already under scrutiny due to the criminal case. Local media outlet Khan described the internal atmosphere within the federation as one of disorientation and resignation. “It was inevitable,” said one employee, while another characterised the working environment as chaotic, adding: “Work piles up and the organisational climate remains unstable. Everyone is on edge.”

According to local reconstructions, public accusations against the KFA leadership and Hong emerged in 2024, though the investigation had stalled until the World Cup elimination. The resignation of Chung before the tournament and Hong’s subsequent departure did not halt public criticism or the legal offensive, with staff involved in the selection process also summoned as witnesses.

Uncertainty persists over whether Hong’s appointment could constitute a criminal offence even if procedural irregularities are proven. After nearly two years of investigation, police have yet to reach a conclusion, though Yonhap, KBS News, and Khan all report that the prolonged inquiry is already threatening to further damage the federation’s standing.