K-football innovation committee, future 비대면 한국이 나이… 박지성 위원장 "상황 유동적"

(Cheonan = Yonhap News) Reporter Choi Song-ah = The K-Football Innovation Committee, which was launched in response to the growing demand for reform in the soccer world following the poor performance of the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup, plans to continue discussions non-face-to-face for the time being.

At the end of the listening session held at the Korea Football Park in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province on the 19th, co-chairman Park Ji-sung said, "We have been meeting every week so far, and in the future, we plan to discuss youth policies and the selection of national team coaches every week or over 2-3 weeks depending on the situation." He added, "I also have to return to England, so we will continue the meetings non-face-to-face."

Amid growing criticism of the Korea Football Association following its elimination in the round of 32 of the North and Central America World Cup, the Innovation Committee, launched under the leadership of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, held six meetings from early last month to the 11th of this month to discuss creating a new version of the soccer world. The seventh meeting of the day was a listening session attended by various stakeholders, and voices from the field were heard in areas such as youth development.

After the listening session, Chairman Park met with reporters and explained the Innovation Committee's future plans, saying, "I think we need to monitor the situation a little more. If a situation arises where a face-to-face meeting is necessary, it will be held, but it is not currently planned and will be held non-face-to-face."

He continued, “Because we are not doing this with a set deadline, we are taking some time to review it from a practical perspective, and the schedule is being flexible.”

Looking back on the month-long process of the Innovation Committee, he expressed his opinion, "We are not in the final stage yet and nothing has been confirmed. I think it is too early to make an evaluation because I think we need to clearly show the direction that we are going down a different path."

Regarding the election of the president of the Korea Football Association, the first step toward improving the system has yet to be taken, and pending issues in the soccer world, including the appointment of the national team coach, are still piling up.

Chairman Park said, “Regarding the election of the President of the Football Association, we already made a recommendation at the beginning of this month, and there remains the issue of changing the Articles of Incorporation through the Board of Directors and the General Assembly of Representatives.” He added, “The Innovation Committee will monitor the implementation status and provide support where it can.”

Regarding the national team coach, he said, "I think there will be a lot of discussion about what system is needed to appoint the coach as fairly as possible."

Regarding the contents of the listening session that day, he said, "I think the statement that we can't practice because we don't have a playground struck me the most."