Listening Session

The Korean Football Innovation Committee (Innovation Committee) held a listening session at the Korea Football Park Stadium in Cheonan on August 19, 2026. Over 100 parents, coaches, players, and tournament and league stakeholders attended to voice on-ground concerns. The committee, launched under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, had held six meetings from early last month and convened a seventh specifically for gathering field feedback.

Match and Stadium Shortages

Coach Lee Hyun-woo of Seoul Shin-rim Middle School said, “Junior students play only three matches a year. The low number of matches reduces continuity. In Seoul, matches cannot be held because there are no sports fields.” He added, “The number of middle-school matches now is not much different from 30 years ago.” Coach Ryu Seong-hyeon of Seoul Nohwon FC Heart shared, “Unlike the shift of school football to clubs, there are clauses that prevent using school or outdoor sports facilities for profit, leaving no space to play freely. Cost, travel, and skill level are all affected.”

Coach Education and Systemic Reform

Ulsan Football Association executive Lee Dong-jin said, “I wish the Korean Football Association could act as a control tower to disseminate technology by age group. Programs like Golden Age existed, but there is a lack of a system that coaches nationwide can apply.” Coach Park Sang-min of Cheonan City FC U-15 noted, “While I attend many educational seminars with professional youth teams, I hear that general teams lack such educational platforms.” He urged, “There should be more spaces for teaching not only football theory but also psychology and character development to produce better coaches.”

Future Direction and Commitments

Chairman Park Ji-seong expressed gratitude for the diverse field opinions, emphasizing that “the key is to set a clear purpose and a long-term plan.” He added, “Once policy direction is set, we must unite to move forward.” Vice-Chairman Yoo Seung-min highlighted the need for increased youth-related budget, stating, “Administration ultimately requires money. I hope that, looking 10-20 years ahead, Korea’s football will grow stronger and that youth investment will be realized directly.”

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young said, “I feel a sense of responsibility when I hear that children cannot play due to lack of fields, especially in extreme heat or cold. It is also a matter of care. The ministry must take a leading role in solving these issues. I promise to invest boldly, amend outdated regulations, and address each problem one by one.”

Conclusion

There were criticisms that the requirements for coaches to hold a professional sports coach certification in addition to a FIFA license were unrealistic. Minister Choi announced that the decree will be revised and that alternatives such as oral and ethics education will be prepared.

Minister Choi promised bold investment and the revision of outdated regulations.