The Korea Football Association (KFA) is launching a comprehensive reform of its referee assignment and evaluation systems, including plans to introduce artificial intelligence, in a bid to enhance transparency and fairness amid growing distrust in officiating.
The KFA held the "KFA Open Ground: Referee Policy Announcement" event near the Football Hall in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on January 23, unveiling key policies aimed at improving transparency in referee operations.
The association established professionalism, fairness, and transparency as the three core principles of its referee policy. It introduced specific improvements to be implemented from this season, along with medium- to long-term action plans to strengthen and establish these values.
The KFA presented a medium- to long-term plan to address distrust in referee operations, focusing on four pillars: improving referee assignment methods, enhancing evaluation principles, strengthening referee capabilities, and expanding communication.
The association plans to transfer assignment authority from the Referee Committee to the Secretariat (Referee Operations Team). The Referee Committee's final assignment authority will be restructured to a computerized primary assignment followed by Secretariat final confirmation.
This assignment system will operate temporarily until an AI-based assignment system is established.
Professional league referee assignments will be moved up from 3-5 days before matches to two weeks prior, allowing referees sufficient preparation time. However, public disclosure will remain at two hours before kickoff.
Referee evaluation principles will also be improved. Reflecting opinions raised at public hearings, non-referee participation in the evaluation council will expand from one to three members. Observer eligibility, previously limited to professional league referee staff, will extend to club officials to enhance objectivity and transparency.
The KFA will also focus on strengthening referee capabilities and developing international referees. Online feedback training will become standard after each K League round, and training systems will be enhanced to ensure consistency in decisions. Full-time instructors will be added to improve training quality.
Mobile VAR (M-VAR) training will expand through adoption of international organization training and education systems. The promotion system will shift from seniority-based to performance-based, establishing a fast-track structure for international referees. English education will become mandatory for all courses in the S Course referee training academy program.
Finally, the KFA plans to strengthen external communication by conducting Monday briefings on major issues and holding regular explanation sessions.
KFA Vice Chairman Lee Yong-soo, who personally delivered the policy announcement, said: "We take seriously the external criticism and attention regarding referees. The improvements developed through discussions with internal and external stakeholders may not immediately satisfy all football fans' expectations, but we will work to achieve gradual progress."