Seoul Jongno Police Station has launched an investigation into Chung Mong-gyu, president of the Korea Football Association (KFA), who has been accused of unilaterally appointing Jurgen Klinsmann, former coach, dismissed last week.
Jongno Police Station announced on Feb. 19. that it has begun an investigation into Chung’s alleged coercion, obstruction of business, and embezzlement in office after being assigned the case by the Seoul Metropolitan Police.
The Public Welfare Committee, a civic group, filed a complaint against Chung with the Seoul Metropolitan Police on Feb. 13, accusing him of obstruction of business and misconduct in office. The committee alleged that Chung interfered with the work of association officials by forcing them to appoint Klinsmann.
“Regardless of whether the contract is over or not, the only way to appease public wrath is to dismiss Coach Klinsmann and the head coach responsible for their incompetence and dereliction of duty,” the complaint by the committee states.
The committee also claimed, “The penalty for dismissing Mr. Klinsmann, the amount of money to be paid for two and a half years in case that he is not dismissed, and the amount of money already paid after the initial contract are all public money. If president Chung forced KFA to recruit Klinsmann, it constitutes professional misconduct.”
On Feb. 18, the committee argued, “The players’ honor was harmed because the KFA blamed the defeat (against Jordan) on a quarrel between Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in to avoid scathing criticism towards the association” and filed additional charges of defamation against Chung, former coach Klinsmann, and full-time Vice Chairman of KFA Kim Jung-bae.
