The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Monday it has sent an official letter to the Korea Football Association (KFA) once again urging implementation of the "disposition and required measures based on audit findings."
"The ministry prevailed in the lawsuit filed by the KFA seeking to cancel the notification of specific audit results and required measures," the ministry said. "Based on the first-instance ruling, we are urging the implementation of the 'disposition and required measures based on audit findings' that the ministry requested from the KFA on November 5, 2024."
Implementation of the required measures had been delayed as the KFA's application for a stay of execution on the notification of specific audit results and required measures, filed alongside the administrative lawsuit, had been granted. However, following this first-instance ruling, the stay of execution will expire on May 26, 2026, 30 days after the ruling date.
According to the ministry, after the stay expires, the KFA must issue a disciplinary resolution against relevant executives and staff, including Chairman Chung Mong-gyu, within one month, and implement institutional improvements and corrective measures within two months, in accordance with Article 28 of the Self-Audit Standards for Central Administrative Agencies and Local Governments.
Earlier, the Administrative Division 5 of the Seoul Administrative Court ruled on the 23rd of this month that the ministry's audit scope and disciplinary requests were lawful and that the required measures for each matter were also justified. The court stated that the ministry's findings were all recognized regarding violations of the national team coach selection procedure, improper management of subsidies for the Football National Center construction project, and improper handling of football figures' amnesty, and concluded that the required measures and disciplinary requests could not be deemed unjust.
"The KFA should take this ruling seriously," the ministry said. "We expect the KFA to reflect on itself and actively make efforts to innovate Korean football. We will closely monitor the implementation process going forward."
