South Korea’s football authorities are facing mounting scrutiny after the Korea Football Association (KFA) apologised for a series of controversies, including allegations that association funds were used for sexual entertainment involving foreign referees.
The allegations relate to a 2016 report by South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which was only made public last week after being obtained by Korean broadcaster JTBC.
According to JTBC’s investigation, the ministry found that 5.6 million won (€3,500) was spent using KFA corporate credit cards at massage parlours for what was described as “sexual entertainment”.
The spending allegedly occurred in the early 2010s and involved foreign referees who had travelled to South Korea to officiate international matches.
Among them were officials who took charge of 2014 World Cup qualifiers and matches connected to the 2012 London Olympic Games, tournaments for which South Korea successfully qualified.
The ministry reportedly concluded that KFA employees had recorded the expenses under false descriptions, claiming the money had been spent on food, drinks or ordinary massages.
One KFA official reportedly told JTBC that such spending was “common practice back in those days.”
KFA issues apology
The KFA has now publicly apologised for what it described as “various controversies”.
The association also referenced South Korea’s disappointing performance at the 2026 World Cup, alongside the newly resurfaced allegations dating back more than a decade.
However, the KFA stressed that the alleged misuse of corporate cards is not representative of current practices.
“Such inappropriate conduct or misuse of corporate cards is absolutely not occurring at the association at present.”
The association added that it had lost sight of its fundamental purpose and described its current situation as “truly dire”.
Leadership crisis continues
The latest scandal comes amid an already serious crisis at the KFA.
National team head coach Hong Myung-bo and KFA president Chung Mong-gyu both resigned earlier this summer following intense criticism of South Korea’s World Cup campaign.
South Korea failed to progress from a group containing Mexico, the Czech Republic and South Africa.
Both Hong and Chung were subsequently questioned during a parliamentary hearing in July.
The association’s headquarters were also raided by police last week as part of an investigation into alleged obstruction of business relating to Hong’s appointment as national team coach in 2024.
His return to the position allegedly followed a brief meeting after the KFA abandoned a lengthy recruitment process that had involved interviews with several foreign coaches.
Investigation could widen
The police investigation could now potentially expand to include the allegations concerning sexual favours.
According to Korean media reports, an official said during a briefing on Monday that authorities would “review” whether the allegations should form part of the investigation.
South Korea has a 15-year statute of limitations for many crimes, meaning the age of the allegations could become an important factor.
Meanwhile, Japanese media have reported that the Japan Football Association (JFA) is investigating claims that some Japanese referees may also have been involved.
The KFA and JFA have been approached for comment.
Park Ji-sung calls for electoral reform
The crisis has also intensified the debate over the future governance of South Korean football.
The national team head coach position remains vacant, while former South Korea captain and Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung has been placed in charge of a new football innovation committee established by the government.
Park said presidential elections are expected to take place before the end of the year.
He has also proposed a major expansion of the electorate.
At present, around 200 officials, club representatives, coaches and players participate in the process.
Park has suggested increasing that figure to approximately 20,000, including semi-professional players.
The proposal would represent a dramatic change in how the KFA is governed as South Korean football attempts to recover from a series of sporting, administrative and now historical controversies.
