Hello, I think you must be having a hard time mentally these days to the extent that it is too much to say hello. As stated in my recent autobiography, I worked hard with great affection for Korean soccer, but I think you will be more disappointed and frustrated because all the criticism is focused on it. Many people who have seen him around know that he is an easy-going, good-natured and sincere person. He also means that he is not someone who makes great gains from the position of chairman or who devotes himself to the position because he is greedy for commitment.
He has served three terms since his inauguration in 2013, and 12 years have passed. During his term in office, he made significant contributions to the development of Korean soccer. In his early days in office, he presented a blueprint for the “Vision Hat Trick 2033,” which contained directions and challenges for the development of Korean soccer. Since he was president of the Korea Professional Football Association, he has promoted the K-League division and the promotion system with the association, and since he became president, he has taken the lead in firmly establishing the platform. Reorganizing the adult division system from the first to the seventh divisions, including organizing the K3 and K4 leagues, is a great achievement that cannot be easily done by other sports organizations. Of course, the Golden Age program, the eight-member elementary school division, and the U-League promotion system were of great help to the development of Korean soccer.
He also kept track of his team’s performance. Following the 2017 U-20 World Cup domestically, he won the runner-up prize at the 2019 U-20 World Cup, the semifinals at the 2023 U-20 World Cup, and won the Asian Games for the third consecutive time. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he overcame the pain of elimination from the group stage twice to advance to the round of 16. Women’s soccer has also made it to the finals for three consecutive World Cups. Of course, it’s a shame that he failed to make it to the Paris Olympics.
Another significant achievement was the decision to build a comprehensive center in Cheonan in place of the old Paju Center. Additionally, there were few previously frequent antagonists between pro- and anti-affiliated groups under Chairman Chung Mong-gyu. I don’t want to blame the chairman for all the dynamics and interests in the field of diplomacy, despite the fact that it has retreated from the perspective of international diplomacy, and it is directly linked to national administrative and economic power.
The last two years, however, have been so bad that they can be called the association’s dark ages. In the past, the executive has also been criticized several times, but it has been resolved to some extent in a month or two. However, there is no sign that the anger and dissatisfaction that have occurred now will subside.
Stagnant water is bound to go bad. Even if one person starts with good intentions and a certain group is in power for a long time, indolence, self-righteousness, arrogance, and corruption will arise. The association has lost vitality, motivation, drive, and empathy. The chairman may not recognize it, but at the center of everything is the leader. The chairman is ultimately responsible for the problems ranging from the decision to pardon a person involved in match fixing, to the appointment of Klinsmann, who is full of questions, and the subsequent dismissal of him for failing to control his unfaithful behavior. The chairman is largely responsible for failing to appoint the right person in the right place and arranging incompetent or flattering people. Despite this, the chairman seems to have a desire to seek a fourth term. Some say that he is trying to run for a second term as he thinks that finishing what he started, such as the Cheonan Center, is truly fulfilling his responsibilities.
To be honest, the cause is weak. If a person who is not qualified becomes the chairman, some of his aides will demand a second term because the situation could be worse than now. However, that is no different from the dictator’s logic, “If I quit, the country will be in chaos.”
Trust in the association is now at a rock bottom, both inside and outside. At the A-match, there are many slogans and hangers to criticize the president and the coach. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism even demanded attendance at the National Assembly, a major soccer player. Korean soccer heroes who deserve to be respected by the public have been mocked. Korean national soccer players openly fight. The national team’s leading player even got into an argument with supporters. Even the labor union, which consists of employees of the association, 먹튀검증 issued a statement criticizing the president.
The only way to resolve the turmoil is for the chairman to declare that he will give up his bid for a fourth term right now. Of course, that will not solve all problems, but it will at least serve as a great opportunity to calm the dire situation and turn the tide from division to reconciliation. The chairman may be disappointed, but that is the answer now.