Court Rules Ministry's Disciplinary Request Against Korea Football Chief Chung Monggyu Is Lawful

Football Association Loses Lawsuit

The court has ruled that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's request for severe disciplinary action against Chung Monggyu, President of the Korea Football Association, is lawful.

On April 23, the Seoul Administrative Court's Administrative Division 5 (Presiding Judge Lee Jeongwon) ruled against the plaintiff in the lawsuit filed by the Korea Football Association seeking to cancel the notification of the results of a special inspection and the related action request made by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The court stated, "The Ministry's request for action was not deemed improper or illegal, and the degree of disciplinary request falls within the scope of discretionary authority." The court recognized that, at the time of the appointment of former coach Klinsmann, the recommendation function of the Power Enhancement Committee was rendered ineffective, and President Chung Monggyu inappropriately intervened in the selection process, including conducting interviews with candidates without proper authority. The court also found that, in the appointment of coach Hong Myungbo, then-Technical Director Lee Im-saeng pushed through the recommendation without legal authority.

Previously, in November 2024, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced the results of its audit of the Football Association and demanded severe disciplinary action, including suspension of qualifications, against President Chung and other key officials. The Football Association argued that the Ministry's disciplinary demands for its executives and staff were an abuse of authority without legal basis, and filed a lawsuit seeking cancellation of the request along with an application for a stay of execution. Last year, when the court granted the stay of execution, President Chung was able to run in and win the subsequent election for president of the Football Association. Although the Ministry appealed, the higher court upheld the same decision.

With this ruling, the Ministry's action request has now secured legal legitimacy. However, as the stay of execution requested by the Football Association has been granted, the actual enforcement of the measures will be suspended for up to 30 days from the date of the ruling.

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