Chung Mong-joon Expected to be Reappointed with Bumpy Road Ahead

Korea Football Leaders Association (FTLA), co-chaired by Park Jong-hwan, Cha Kyeong-bok, and Kim Ho, did not nominate a candidate who would compete with the current president of Korea Football Association (FTA) Chung Mong-joon. The FTLA has been against the reappointment of Chung. “We will not put up a candidate for the president of the FTA,” the FTLA announced on Thursday at the lobby of the National Statistical Office (NSO).

The FTLA was launched at the end of last year, rising up against the association that has been led by President Chung for 12 years since 1993. With the FTLA’s decision, Chung is likely to be reappointed as the president for the fourth consecutive time at the general assembly of FTA on January 18. As of January 13, the deadline for registration, President Chung and Chairman of Wonju Civil Organization Kim Kwang-rim have been registered as candidates.

The FTLA appeared to have nominated no one because the outcome is too obvious. As the FTLA stepped back, which boasted that it would compete until the end, the current FTA executives chaired by Chung are expected to stay in office. Nevertheless, the road ahead is likely to be rough.

The FTLA submitted a petition to the NSO on Thursday requiring a tax investigation into the FTA and asked for a public debate for incorporating the FTA and the development of Korean soccer.

Meanwhile Korea OB Football Club, led by Chairman Oh Wan-gun, issued a statement at the FTA building in Seoul, urging concession and compromise.

Sang-Ho Kim hyangsan@donga.com