Will Chung Mong-kyu, chairman of the Korea Football Association (KFA), be a rival? Heo Jung-moo, former chairman of the Daejeon Hana Citizen, has decided to run for president of the KFA.
Former Chairman Huh Jung-moo said in a telephone interview with OSEN on Wednesday, “It is right that I have decided to run. I will make an official announcement within this week and tell you the reason and plan of my decision in detail at a press conference.”
The next KFA presidential election will take place on Jan. 8 next year. The registration period for candidates will run from Dec. 25 to Dec. 27 this year, and the newly elected president will start his term from Jan. 22 next year. Chung Mong-gyu, who is currently serving his third consecutive term, will finish his term on Jan. 21 next year.
Former chairman Huh Jung-moo has qualified to run for president by a five-day margin. According to the KFA’s articles of association, only those under the age of 70 can run as candidates as of election day. Former chairman Huh Jung-moo, who was born on Jan. 13, 1995, will hold an election five days before his 70th birthday.
Heo Jung-moo became a leader in 1990 after 13 years of active career. He built his career by leading K-League teams including Jeonnam Dragons and Incheon United.
He also led the Korean national team to the round of 16 best teams in the World Cup for the first time in history. Former chairman Huh Jung-moo opened a new horizon in Korean soccer by bringing the team to the round of 16 best teams at the 2010 스포츠토토 World Cup in South Africa.
He not only served as a leader but also as an administrator. Heo served as vice chairman of the KFA from 2013 to 2014 and vice president of the Korea Professional Football Association from 2015 to 2019. He served as chairman of the Daejeon Hana Citizen’s board for three years from 2020 to last year.
Heo Jung-moo, former chairman of the KFA, has announced his plan to run for the KFA chairman. He has become the first person to announce his intention to run for the fourth term at a time when Chung Mong-gyu has yet to officially announce his bid for the fourth term.
Of course, Chung is highly likely to seek a fourth term. He has yet to officially announce his intention. Chung has yet to apply for a second term at the Korea Sports Council’s Sports Fair Committee.
However, Chung Mong-gyu has constantly been reticent when asked whether he would like to resign. In a comprehensive audit by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee last month, Chung said, “The term of office remains until January next year. I think we need to finish it well. I will make a decision after considering various factors.” When asked to give up his second term, he said, “I will open up all possibilities for the development of Korean soccer and make a decision after careful consideration.”
Currently, public opinion toward Chung is at rock bottom. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has also demanded that Chung Mong-gyu be punished with “above suspension of qualification,” pointing out last year’s match-fixing scandal, amnesty for corrupt soccer players, and inappropriate intervention in the process of appointing a coach through a specific audit. The KFA quickly posted a statement to refute that it is not true, but it is still unclear what choice Chung will make to criticize.
