South Korean police conducted search and seizure operations at Korea Football Association (KFA) offices in Seoul and Cheonan on Thursday, August 6, 2026, as part of a deepening investigation into the appointment of former national team coach Hong Myung-bo.

A police spokesperson confirmed to AFP that financial crimes investigators are examining allegations of "obstruction of business" relating to how the 57-year-old Hong was recruited to lead the national side in 2024. Local media have reported that senior KFA officials are suspected of improperly interfering in the process, allegedly in breach of internal regulations.

World Cup exit fuels scrutiny

Questions over the circumstances of Hong's appointment had already been circulating before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but the controversy intensified sharply after South Korea suffered a shock early exit from the tournament — co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

The team, which had been dubbed a "golden generation" by the South Korean press, were eliminated at the group stage following a 1-0 defeat to South Africa. Hong resigned in June in the aftermath of the result.

South Korea had entered the 48-team competition with considerable optimism, boasting a squad featuring former Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min, Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae, and former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in. The failure to advance beyond the group stage deepened public frustration and sharpened the spotlight on those responsible for assembling the coaching setup.

The KFA now faces mounting institutional pressure as investigators assess whether the process that brought Hong into the role was compromised from within.