The South Korean Football Association (KFA) has issued a sweeping apology following a series of controversies, most notably a scandal involving allegations of using association credit cards for sexual favors for foreign referees in the early 2010s. The organization admitted to "various controversies" and stated it had "lost sight of its fundamental purpose."
A report compiled by South Korea's ministry of culture, sport and tourism in 2016, which was recently obtained by media organization JTBC, revealed that approximately 5.6 million won (about $4,000 USD at the time) was spent on "sexual entertainment" at massage parlors for visiting referees. These referees officiated matches in which the South Korean national team participated, including qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup and the 2012 Olympic Games. According to the report, KFA staff allegedly misrepresented these expenses as being for food, drink, or massages.
An official within the KFA described the practice as "commonplace" in past years. The association's apology, posted on social media, acknowledged the public's disappointment and concern, referencing both the team's recent poor performance in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and the "media reports regarding events from over a decade ago that even many of our own staff members were unaware of."
The KFA stressed that such "inappropriate conduct or misuse of corporate cards is absolutely not occurring at the association at present." The statement came after manager Hong Myung-bo and KFA president Chung Mong-gyu resigned earlier in the summer due to public anger over the national team's performance in the 2026 World Cup group stage, where they were eliminated.
South Korea failed to advance from a group that included Mexico, the Czech Republic, and South Africa. The team's exit from the tournament has added to the pressure on the football association, which is now facing scrutiny over past practices as well as current management and performance.