▲ Chung Mong-gyu, former head of the Korea Football Association, leaves the office of the financial crimes unit under the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Seoul, in this file photo taken Sept. 2, 2026. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Yonhap) -- Chung Mong-gyu, former chief of the Korea Football Association (KFA), has been referred to the prosecution over alleged irregularities in the appointment of former men's national team head coach Hong Myung-bo, police said Tuesday.

Chung faces charges of obstruction of business for allegedly interfering in the head coach nomination process to get Hong appointed in July 2024, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.

Investigators believe Chung also took steps to make the appointment appear to have followed proper procedures.

Hong's appointment sparked major public backlash at the time, with critics raising questions over a lack of transparency and alleged procedural irregularities.

The investigation, which first began soon after Hong's appointment, recently gained renewed attention following South Korea's elimination from the group stage at this year's World Cup.

Investigators, however, decided not to press charges against Hong due to a lack of evidence that he interfered in the appointment process.

Both Hong and Chung stepped down from their posts following the country's World Cup elimination in June.

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