The South Korea Football Association (KFA) is facing renewed scrutiny after a government audit alleged that the federation provided sexual entertainment to foreign referees during international matches held in the country.
According to a 2016 audit by South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the South Korea Football Association used corporate credit cards to pay for sexual entertainment at massage parlors and other adult establishments in Seoul and host cities. The expenses reportedly occurred between March 2011 and March 2012, surrounding major international fixtures.
Matches during that period included qualifiers for the 2012 London Olympics and the 2014 FIFA World Cup, placing the allegations within a significant window for South Korean football.
The audit, first reported by JTBC, cited testimony from former KFA officials who said foreign referees had requested such services. One former executive described the practice as “a common practice at the time,” while also claiming that similar or worse practices existed in other countries.
At the time of the alleged incidents, Cho Chung-yun was serving as president of the South Korea Football Association.
A current KFA official said verifying corporate card usage from over a decade ago is difficult but emphasized that stricter internal controls and compliance guidelines have since been implemented.
The resurfacing of the audit comes amid broader controversy surrounding the South Korea Football Association. On Thursday, police raided KFA headquarters in Cheonan, approximately 90 kilometers south of Seoul, as part of an ongoing investigation into the 2024 appointment of former national team head coach Hong Myung-bo.
p]:mt-4 [&_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&_strong:has(+br)]:align-top”>Authorities also searched the KFA House in central Seoul, seeking evidence of potential irregularities, including possible interference or obstruction by senior officials such as former president Chung Mong-gyu.
The investigation, which began shortly after Hong’s appointment, had stalled for nearly two years before regaining momentum following South Korea’s group-stage exit at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Hong Myung-bo and Chung Mong-gyu both stepped down after the tournament and later testified before lawmakers at a parliamentary hearing on July 30, where officials were questioned over governance issues and the national team’s performance.
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Addressing the hiring controversy, Hong said, “When I received the offer, I thought they had all taken the proper steps. People may think things were not so transparent, but I never once asked for any special treatment.”
South Korea’s sports ministry previously found that the KFA breached its own hiring procedures in 2024, noting that an informal meeting between Hong and former technical director Lee Lim-saeng did not qualify as a formal interview. However, the ministry said there was no evidence of illegal conduct.
With both historical allegations and ongoing investigations converging, pressure is mounting on the South Korea Football Association over governance, transparency, and accountability within Korean football.
