Former Korea national football team official Park Hang-seo has launched a scathing critique of the Korea Football Association (KFA), labeling it a 'cartel' and condemning its arrogance. Park made the comments during a YouTube appearance on September 2, revealing behind-the-scenes dysfunction during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Park stated, "The issue wasn't a 'Korea University cartel' but a 'KFA cartel.' It was their own league." He added, "This was a problem waiting to explode. Soul-searching reflection is needed." South Korea was eliminated in the group stage, finishing 3rd with 3 points from 1 win and 2 losses. Their recent form over the last five matches is 3 wins and 2 losses (LLWWW), having lost their last two games, including a 1-0 defeat to South Africa on June 25.
What happened inside KFA meetings
Park, who served as head of the player support unit, said he often felt lost during internal meetings. He asked about the reporting line but received no clear answers and sensed an implicit pressure to "not make a fuss." He pointed to the association's closed-off operational culture as a root cause. The team's current World Cup campaign saw them score 2 goals and concede 3, for a -1 goal difference. They sit 6 points behind group leaders Mexico. The full standings provide more context on the competitive landscape.
What was the Czech Republic interview boycott incident
Park detailed the 'interview boycott' incident ahead of the group-stage match against the Czech Republic. After some reporters were exposed for mocking players during training, captain Son Heung-min declared a boycott in response. Park said he was not initially informed about the situation and later requested the KFA to resolve it quickly. However, the issue did not improve easily, and Son Heung-min and Lee Jae-sung came to him to express their concerns. The team's complete tournament statistics are available on our stats page.
How was the post-elimination apology handled
After Korea's group-stage exit was confirmed, Park received a request from the KFA to participate in a public apology statement. He said the association's executive director and committee chairman were supposed to join but seemed reluctant at the last moment. Park told them to "just back off" and read the apology alone. He also criticized head coach Hong Myung-bo's resignation press conference for ending without a Q&A session, saying it was incomprehensible and that Hong should have admitted faults and faced criticism.
How should the KFA change moving forward
Park recounted the team's return to Korea after the World Cup, describing a wary atmosphere at the airport. He stepped out first to do his part, preceding Coach Hong and KFA executives amid angry fans. "The KFA was too arrogant," Park stated. He argued the incident should prompt the association to humble itself and allow younger football figures like Park Ji-sung and Lee Young-pyo to lead change. The Taeguk Warriors' next fixture is a home friendly against Ecuador on September 24, which you can find on our fixtures schedule.
