Choi Hyun-joon, inspector general at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, announces the interim audit results of the Korea Football Association's (KFA) controversial hiring of Hong Myung-bo and Jurgen Klinsmann as men's national football team head coaches, during a media briefing at the Government Complex in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

The Korea Football Association (KFA) repeatedly violated internal regulations when hiring both Hong Myung-bo and his predecessor, Jurgen Klinsmann, as head coaches of the men's national football team, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said, Wednesday.

The interim results of the ministry's audit into the association came after months of controversy regarding the hiring of Hong, amid accusations that he was appointed to the position in July without undergoing the same vetting process as other foreign candidates.

"(The) KFA's Technical Director Lee Lim-saeng, who lacked the necessary authority, recommended the final candidate. Furthermore, the interview process was not transparent and fair," Choi Hyun-joon, an inspector general at the culture ministry, said during a press briefing in Seoul. "The board of directors' approval process that followed the internal decision to appoint Hong was merely a formality."

The KFA announced that following the unexpected resignation of National Teams Committee Chairman Chung Hae-sung, who had initially selected three coaching candidates — Hong, David Wagner, and Gustavo Poyet — Lee stepped in to oversee the head coach selection process. He conducted interviews with the candidates and ultimately chose Hong through a formal hiring procedure. The committee has been tasked with finding a new coach since Klinsmann's dismissal in February.

The Korean men's national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo / Yonhap

However, the ministry said that Lee, who is not a member of the committee, lacked the authority to recommend a coach. His role was limited to interviewing candidates. But the ministry emphasized that Lee's interview with Hong did not adhere to the proper vetting process.

"The interview with Hong took place in a late-night meeting near his home, conducted solely by Lee without a prepared question sheet or any observers present. During this meeting, Lee directly offered Hong the coaching position," Choi said.

During the subsequent board approval process, some members expressed regret that they had been reduced to mere rubber stampers and asked for a formal board meeting. Nevertheless, the appointment of Hong was ultimately approved by a majority vote, according to the ministry.

The investigation revealed that the former committee chairman had selected three candidates for KFA President Chung Mong-gyu to review, placing Hong at the top of the list before resigning on June 27. Although the committee chairman recommended Hong for the coaching position, the president instructed him to interview the foreign candidates first. Shortly thereafter, the committee chairman resigned.

"There may have not been any major problem if the hiring process had started by interviewing Hong as the first candidate as the committee chief recommended," Choi said.

However, he said that the procedural flaws do not invalidate the KFA's contract with Hong as head coach. Regarding whether he should resign, Choi said, "We expect the association to make its own decision based on public opinion, common sense, and fairness."

The ministry also said that during the hiring process of Hong's predecessor, Klinsmann, the KFA bypassed the committee.

"KFA President Chung Mong-gyu overstepped his authority by interviewing Klinsmann and another candidate in the final stages of the hiring process — a responsibility that should have been handled by the committee members. They were entirely excluded from the process from the beginning, and the necessary board approval was also omitted," Choi said.