K-Football Leadership Reimagined
K-Football Innovation Committee Launches with Park Ji-sung as Co-Chair, Rules Out Presidential Bid
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Key Points
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There were conflicting reports on who would co-chair the Innovation Committee after Choi stepped down: one account stated KSOC President Ryu Seung-min would serve as co-chair, while another report listed Yoo Seung-min as co-chair.
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Park Ji-sung said, 'We must not continue doing things the way we always have,' and added that he would work to generate 'as many good solutions as possible' to move Korean football forward.
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Chung Mong-gyu, the president of the Korea Football Association, officially submitted his resignation on the launch day of the Innovation Committee.
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The inaugural launch ceremony was held at the Olympic Parktel in Songpa-gu, Seoul, with participants including Kim Seung-hee (KFA executive director) and Cho Yeon-sang (secretary-general of the Korea Professional Football League).
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Minister Choi Hwi-young stepped down from the co-chair role and urged Yoo Seung-min to take over, signaling a government intent to let football professionals lead discussions while the government supports the future of K-football.
Korea's K-Football Innovation Committee officially launched on July 6, with Park Ji-sung named co-chair alongside a reshuffled government leadership Seoul Economic Daily. The launch came on the same day Korea Football Association president Chung Mong-gyu formally submitted his resignation, marking a dramatic shake-up of Korean football's governing structure Star News Korea.
Park Ji-sung Takes the Lead on Korean Football Reform
Park Ji-sung, South Korea's most celebrated footballer, is co-chairing the new committee Seoul Economic Daily. He will lead discussions on fixing how Korean football is run. Park did not hold back at the launch. "We must not continue doing things the way we always have," he said. He pledged to generate "as many good solutions as possible" to move Korean football forward Star News Korea.
Other well-known football figures joined the committee as members, including former national team players Lee Young-pyo and Park Ju-ho Star News Korea. The launch ceremony was held at the Olympic Parktel in Songpa-gu, Seoul. Kim Seung-hee, the KFA's executive director, and Cho Yeon-sang, secretary-general of the Korea Professional Football League, also took part.
Government Steps Back, Lets Football Professionals Lead
Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young stepped down from the co-chair role at the launch event Star News Korea. He urged Yoo Seung-min to take over his seat. The move sends a clear signal. The government wants football professionals — not politicians — to drive the reform talks. Still, the government says it will support the future of Korean football behind the scenes.
There was some confusion over who exactly replaced Choi. One report listed KSOC President Ryu Seung-min as the new co-chair Star News Korea, while another named Yoo Seung-min in that role Seoul Economic Daily. Both accounts agree the government seat was handed off to a sports official. Officials stressed the process must stay in line with FIFA rules to protect the KFA's independence.
Committee Members Rule Out KFA Presidential Race
Park Ji-sung and other committee members made one thing clear at the launch: none of them will run for KFA president Star News Korea. The pledge is meant to keep reform work separate from election politics. Korean football has long suffered from leaders who mix governance with personal ambition. The committee wants to break that pattern.
Weekly Meetings Planned to Fix KFA Decision-Making
The committee plans to meet every week Seoul Economic Daily. Its main focus is fixing how the KFA makes decisions. Officials said the current structure is broken and needs a full overhaul. The committee hopes its work will set a positive example — not just for Korean football, but for sports governance across the country.
The committee's formation follows what organizers called a "World Cup disaster" — South Korea's poor showing in the 2026 World Cup qualifying cycle Seoul Economic Daily. With the KFA president now gone and a reform body in place, Korean football enters a new and uncertain chapter. The committee's first real test will be whether weekly meetings can translate into lasting change.
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