Chung Mong-gyu, president of the Korea Football Association (KFA), will step down after the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America. The move comes 13 years after he took the post in 2013.
In a statement on Tuesday, Chung said, "I intend to step down from the position of football association president after this World Cup." He added, "I believe supporting the national team so that it can deliver results in the finals is my final duty as president, and I will do my best."
Chung went on to explain his reasons for resigning. "I earnestly ask soccer fans for their full support and encouragement for the World Cup national team," he said. "This is a decision reached after careful reflection that, for an association that must devote itself to establishing and implementing a mid- to long-term vision for the development of Korean soccer, a responsible attitude is needed at this point to overcome the current situation."
Chung plans to submit his resignation after the 2026 North and Central America World Cup closes on July 19 local time. He won a fourth term in February 2025 with an overwhelming approval rating of 85.4%, but will now step down midway through his term, which runs until early 2029.
Since taking office as the 52nd president of the Korea Football Association in 2013, Chung has led Korean soccer for 13 years. He left major achievements, including the team's advance to the round of 16 at the 2022 Qatar World Cup and the construction of the Cheonan Korea Football Park. However, he also showed his limits through controversies such as the attempted and withdrawn surprise amnesty for soccer figures and the procedural confusion that emerged in the process of appointing managers Jürgen Klinsmann of Germany and Hong Myung-bo.
In the soccer world, analysts say that strong pressure from government bodies, including the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, played a decisive role in Chung's announcement to resign. In November 2025, the ministry identified 27 cases of illegal and improper handling of duties through a special audit of the association, and has since demanded heavy disciplinary measures of suspension of qualifications or more against Chung and other senior association officials. The National Assembly has also pressured Chung and the association through parliamentary audits and other means. One soccer official said, "It appears that Chung has been under great pressure as the association's legal risks have grown," adding, "He seems to have decided to step down on the judgment that normal performance of duties would become impossible."
