2002 World Cup coach Chung Hae-sung to lead national team committee

Korea Football Association National Team Committee Head Chung Hae-sung [KOREA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION]

Former Korean national team coach Chung Hae-sung has been appointed as the head of the Korea Football Association’s National Team Committee, the KFA announced Tuesday.

Chung, 65, is a veteran figure in Korean football, having served as assistant coach for Korea’s 2002 World Cup semifinalist squad and 2010 World Cup team that reached the round of 16.

He has also taken administrative roles such as KFA Referee Committee head and Competition Committee head in the 2010s.

The appointment comes after KFA Chairman Chung Mong-gyu removed Jurgen Klinsmann from the national team manager position on Feb. 16 and said that the KFA would form a new National Team Committee before appointing a new manager.

Jurgen Klinsmann fired as manager of Korean men's national football team

Klinsmann was sacked after a one-year spell with the national team during which he faced criticism for a perceived lack of tactical awareness and failed to win the Asian Cup. Korea exited with a semifinal loss to Jordan on Feb. 6.

The 10 newly-appointed members of the committee are: Gimpo FC manager Ko Jeong-woon, Soongsil University manager Park Sung-bae, former footballer Park Joo-ho, former Gwangju FC assistant coach Song Myung-won, WK League team Sejong Sportstoto manager Yoon Deok-yeo, Gangwon FC manager Yoon Jong-hwan, WK League team Mungyeong Sangmu manager Lee Mi-yeon, former footballer and QMIT CEO Lee Sang-gi, former Vietnamese national team assistant coach Lee Young-jin and K League Technical Committee Head Jeon Kyung-jun.

The KFA also said that former National Team Committee head Michael Muller will not leave the association, but will take on a research role.

The National Team Committee will have its first meeting on Wednesday at the KFA headquarters in central Seoul and announce its plans for the national team.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]