(LEAD) Police raid Korea Football Association over controversial appointment of ex-head coach Hong

SEOUL, Aug. 6 (Yonhap) -- Anti-graft police conducted a search at the headquarters of the Korea Football Association (KFA) and a branch office in central Seoul on Thursday, probing accusations of misconduct surrounding the selection of former national team head coach Hong Myung-bo for the 2024 season. The investigation targets potential irregularities in the hiring process, which allegedly saw senior KFA officials, including ex-chief Chung Mong-kyu and former technical director Lee Lim-saeng, meddling in the decision-making.

Hong's appointment in July 2024 came after South Korea's early exit from the FIFA World Cup, and he subsequently resigned in June. Authorities aim to obtain KFA records to determine if the senior executives violated protocol in endorsing Hong. Critics contend that Hong was placed in charge without fulfilling standard procedures, with Lee, lacking jurisdiction over appointments, reputedly offering him the position via a bakery near his residence.

A civic group initiated a complaint against Hong and Chung, alleging obstruction of duty, breach of trust, coercion, and intimidation related to the appointment. The raid, occurring about two years after the probe's inception, has gained fresh traction following South Korea's World Cup elimination. Hong was interrogated as a suspect earlier this week, and parliamentary hearings last month probed Hong, Chung, and the KFA's governance amid the appointment controversy.