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South Korean police have raided the headquarters of the Korea Football Association (KFA) as part of an investigation into the appointment of former national team coach Hong Myung-bo.
According to AFP, investigators carried out a search on Thursday over allegations of business obstruction linked to Hong’s appointment in 2024.
Authorities are examining whether senior KFA officials improperly influenced the recruitment process in violation of the association’s internal rules.
The investigation follows South Korea’s disappointing performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the team failed to progress beyond the group stage after a shock 1-0 defeat to South Africa.
Hong, 57, resigned in June after the tournament. He later appeared before a parliamentary committee, where he accepted responsibility for the team’s poor performance.
President Lee Jae Myung also criticised the country’s football leadership, blaming the World Cup failure on incompetent appointments influenced by loyalty and factional interests.
The KFA declined to comment on the police operation.
Hong also faced criticism from supporters for leaving captain Son Heung-min on the bench during the decisive defeat to South Africa, a decision that triggered widespread backlash.
Lawmakers have also questioned reports about Hong’s salary, although the former coach denied claims that he earned 3.8 billion won annually.
