When Asked Why He Works from Home in the US... Klinsmann Says "Disliked Paju Training Center Because It's Close to North Korea"

Only 67 Days Spent in Korea During First 6 Months After Appointment
"Looking for a Coach?" He Said, Then Became Coach - A Slip of the Tongue Too

Former South Korea national football team coach J?rgen Klinsmann, who sparked controversy by primarily working remotely from the United States during his tenure, has offered a bizarre explanation for refusing to reside in Korea. In an interview with the German weekly magazine Der Spiegel on the 21st of last month, while still serving as coach, Klinsmann mentioned that the reason for working remotely was because "the national team training center located in Paju is close to North Korea, which I disliked."

Jurgen Klinsmann, the head coach of the national soccer team, participated via video call on the 15th at the Korea Football Association in Jongno-gu, Seoul, during the 1st National Team Strengthening Committee meeting of 2024, held to evaluate the performance in the 2023 AFC Qatar Asian Cup, which sparked controversy.
[Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@]

Regarding this, Der Spiegel added, "The first thing Klinsmann thinks of when it comes to Paju is the dictator Kim Jong-un and his dark kingdom, due to its proximity to the North Korean border." Klinsmann said, "My laptop is my office. I am a person who flies around like a bird. I meet players in Europe and then return to my home in California, where I stay for about ten days." He also mentioned, "If I don’t show up for a while, the Korean media start looking for me. Then Jerry (Klinsmann’s nickname for the Korea Football Association’s PR officer) sends me a message asking when my flight is."

After the friendly match against Saudi Arabia held in the UK last September, Klinsmann also tried to leave immediately for the United States. Reflecting on that situation, he said, "A KFA official came to my room at the Newcastle hotel and told me to make sure to stop by Korea before leaving. Honestly, I couldn’t understand it." After arriving at Incheon Airport, when asked by reporters why he changed his plan to return instead of going to the US, Klinsmann replied, "Because of you."

During his six months in office, Klinsmann stayed in Korea for only 67 days. It was also reported that he did not have a fixed residence in Korea. Consequently, there are calls to hold Klinsmann accountable for the contract clause requiring him to reside in Korea during his tenure. Furthermore, Klinsmann left for California immediately after the Qatar Asian Cup and attended the Korea Football Association’s Strengthening Committee meeting evaluating the Asian Cup results via video conference. This behavior contrasts sharply with former coach Paulo Bento, who stayed in Paju throughout his tenure.

From Appointment to Dismissal, Klinsmann and Chairman Chung Mong-gyu at the Center of Controversy

Jurgen Klinsmann, the head coach of the national soccer team, who finished the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup, is seen returning home and giving an interview through Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 on the afternoon of the 8th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Klinsmann’s appointment process also came under scrutiny. On the 16th, Chung Mong-gyu, chairman of the Korea Football Association, stated that Klinsmann’s appointment followed the same procedures as former coach Paulo Bento. However, Klinsmann claimed through the media, "During the Qatar World Cup, I jokingly asked Chairman Chung, whom I met by chance, 'Are you looking for a coach?' and he took it seriously, leading to the contract." The KFA notified Klinsmann of his dismissal on the 16th.

As the controversy continued, the civic group Committee for the Protection of the Common People’s Livelihood (Seominwi) filed a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the 18th against former coach Klinsmann, KFA chairman Chung Mong-gyu, executive vice chairman Kim Jeong-bae, and director Hwang Bo-gwan for defamation, defamation by publication, and obstruction of business. Seominwi claimed that the collision incident between players Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in the day before the Asian Cup semifinal was reported by British tabloids, and after the KFA acknowledged it, the association seemed to try to shift public criticism towards the players, which they argued "damaged the honor of the players who did their best at the Asian Cup and the public." Additionally, regarding Klinsmann’s appointment, Seominwi has filed a police complaint against Chairman Chung for coercion, obstruction of business, and breach of trust.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.