The K-Football Innovation Committee will hold its first meeting on June 6 to discuss key issues facing the sport, including governance, youth player development, and the adoption of technology systems.
Innovation Committee Takes First Step on June 6
According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on June 3, the "K-Football Innovation Committee," co-chaired by Minister Choi Hwi-young and Park Ji-sung, a member of a FIFA committee, will hold its first meeting on June 6 at the Olympic Parktel in Songpa-gu, Seoul.
Alongside the two co-chairs, the committee brings together a broad range of sports figures and experts, including football commentators Lee Young-pyo and Park Joo-ho, Korean Sport & Olympic Committee President Yoo Seung-min, Korea Football Association Managing Director Kim Seung-hee, Korea Professional Football League Secretary-General Cho Yeon-sang, attorney Yoo Young-geun, and Pukyong National University Professor Kim Dae-hee.
The formation of the committee reflects demands for football reform that surfaced during the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America. It plans to address a wide range of tasks aimed at boosting the future competitiveness of Korean football, including K-football governance, youth player development, and the adoption of advanced technology systems. Minister Choi is said to have met with football officials and experts in succession recently to share these concerns and gather opinions.
Co-Chair Park Ji-sung stressed, "Through this innovation committee, we will incorporate the various concerns discussed on the ground to jointly design the direction Korean football should take, and draw up a future in which K-football can continue to grow."
Co-Chair Choi Hwi-young also said, "The innovation committee, which will operate on a temporary basis, will hold comprehensive discussions on major tasks." He added, "We will provide solid support so that a vision for Korean football can be established, centered on trusted football figures, and implemented on the ground."
Former Coach Hong Myung-bo Quietly Departs for LA
Meanwhile, former national football team coach Hong Myung-bo is said to have left for Los Angeles to take a rest.
According to related industry sources, Hong quietly slipped out of the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LA International Airport on the afternoon of June 2. As he did not appear at the regular arrivals gate, he is presumed to have used a separate route.
LA airport does not have a dedicated FIFA route but only a paid VIP route. The service, which allows passengers to travel directly to their accommodation by vehicle for 1,125 to 1,650 dollars (approximately 1.73 million to 2.54 million won), is known to be used mainly by celebrities seeking to avoid paparazzi.
Encountering reporters at Incheon Airport the previous day, Hong measured his words, saying, "I have things to say, but the story will come out well someday."
On rumors of internal strife within the squad, he drew a line, saying, "There was no internal strife among the players overall." Asked whether he would attend the Korea Football Association hearing, he avoided a direct answer, saying "I don't know" and "I don't know when my return date will be."
Hong Myung-bo left behind unfinished business, and Park Ji-sung has stepped up.
