Park Joo-ho (37) visited Dortmund, his friendly team, with a bright face. He smiled peacefully at the announcement of legal action by the Korea Football Association (KFA). 여우알바
Park Joo-ho posted a post on his personal social media on the 12th (Korea Standard Time), saying, “I visited my old team Dortmund for the first time in a long time after watching the Euro 2024 semifinal match with Netherlands vs England.”
Park Joo-ho made a bombshell remark on the process of appointing Hong Myung-bo as coach of the national soccer team through his YouTube channel on the 8th. He, who has been a member of the Power Enhancement Committee since February, sparked controversy by raising the issue of “procedure.” The video has already exceeded 3 million views.
“I really didn’t know,” said Park when he heard the announcement on Hong’s appointment during the shooting. “I didn’t know at all,” he said. “I feel so sorry for the past five months. I feel so empty.”
Park even said, “Some people told me that I should be a coach in Korea. In a way, it was a build-up. Even before the meeting started, Park said, ‘Don’t we have to coach in Korea now? There are a lot of good coaches?’ Regarding foreign coaches, Park said, ‘This is not good, that is not good. There is no coach in Korea at all. They just say that everything is good.’
It was a direct criticism of the KFA. “If the current direction continues, I told him earlier that we don’t need a full-fledged committee,” Park said. “This is what happened. I am confident that we don’t need a committee,” Park said. “This is definitely not an accurate procedure that has been through the meeting. I don’t know what it is even though I am inside the meeting. I don’t think I can explain it. Nothing is right. Coach Hong Myung-bo said he would not do it, but he ended up doing it. Nothing has been done within the process. Anyone can fit the procedures and game plan.”
However, Park did not intentionally turn off his phone and avoid contacting him. Soon after filming the video, he boarded the plane to find Germany, where the UEFA Euro 2024 is taking place. He couldn’t answer the phone.
Upon arriving in Germany, Park revealed his updates with a big smile. Invited by his former team Dortmund, he watched the semi-final match between the Netherlands and England held at Zignal Iduna Park. The next day, he visited Dortmund and met with manager Nuri Sahin, who used to be a teammate. He also visited the youth team’s facilities and listened to their explanations.
The possibility of legal action has been discussed, but public opinion is currently sending a lot of support to Park Joo-ho. This is because the truth battle continues as there are even rumors that Lee Im-saeng was not properly delegated the authority to make the final decision to the members of the committee. Lee Young-pyo and Lee Chun-soo openly asked to protect Park Joo-ho, and many supportive comments are also being posted on social media posts.
Coach Hong Myung-bo also said Park’s voice should not be rejected. “I can say that because it was difficult. I think there should be more of these things in the soccer community,” he said. “Some people may feel uncomfortable, but I think it is an important part for us to embrace and move toward better soccer.”
Meanwhile, Park Joo-ho will soon return to Korea and make an official appearance. He will attend the K League × Sanrio Characters Free Open Day, which will be held by the Korean Professional Football Association on the 18th. In addition, on the 19th, the “Children’s Soccer Clinic with Park Joo-ho” will be held for 10 elementary school students in grades 1-3.
