"If There Had Been Fairness, No Problems Would Have Occurred"… Park Ju-ho Strikes Again at Football Association

"To Discuss This Much for the Development of Korean Soccer"

Park Joo-ho, a tvN sports commentator who exposed the so-called 'closed-door administration' allegations surrounding the Korea Football Association's appointment process of head coach Hong Myung-bo for the national football team, criticized, "If there had been fairness, such problems would not have occurred."

On the 18th, at the 'FC Seven Eleven with K League x Sanrio Characters Pre-Open Day' event held at Lotte World Tower in Songpa-gu, Seoul, commentator Park told reporters, "A systematic system is needed (in the association)," urging for this change.

Regarding why he posted a critical video about the association on his YouTube channel, he explained, "I judged that this much needed to be said for the development of Korean football," and added, "I focused on conveying the story of the five months spent preparing for the appointment of the national team coach."

Former national team player Park Joo-ho, who publicly raised concerns about the process of appointing the national soccer team coach, is answering questions from the press at the opening event of the Seven Eleven, K League, and Sanrio Characters pop-up store held on the 18th at Lotte World Mall in Songpa-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

He continued, "I have not received any official contact from the association," and added, "I will not forget the support and encouragement I received from those around me."

He also expressed gratitude for the support shown by former national team players such as Lee Young-pyo, KBS commentator, Park Ji-sung, technical director of Jeonbuk Hyundai, and Koo Ja-cheol, who once served as captain of the national football team. Commentator Lee emphasized, "They all must have had the same heart for the development of Korean football."

Earlier, on the 8th, commentator Park posted a video on his YouTube channel 'Captain Pajuho,' announcing his resignation from the association's Strategy Reinforcement Committee and pointing out the lack of transparency in the association's coach appointment process. He claimed that the association had been conducting a "build-up for appointing a domestic coach" all along.

Park pointed out that a total of 12 meetings were held until former Strategy Reinforcement Committee chairman Jung Hae-sung resigned, and that he had been scouting foreign coaches based on his network built in the German Bundesliga, but the committee members showed indifferent reactions.

He also revealed that after the dismissal of former head coach J?rgen Klinsmann, the interim coach appointment process was decided by vote without serious discussion, and that the formal coach appointment procedure was chaotic and lacked a proper system. During this process, some committee members reportedly showed a passive attitude toward appointing a foreign coach, insisting that "a domestic coach should be appointed."

Meanwhile, the association had previously considered legal action against commentator Park for violating a confidentiality agreement but decided not to respond officially.

Commentator Park signed a confidentiality agreement with the association regarding his activities on the Strategy Reinforcement Committee on April 2. The agreement reportedly stated, "If it is confirmed that the contents of this meeting are disclosed externally, I pledge to accept any punishment or disadvantage."

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