35-year-old One Club Man → Executive Director Kim Seung-hee, who turned into a Korean soccer housekeeper, should meet the eye level of fans (on-site Q&A)
May 21, 2025
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Executive Director Kim held a meeting at the Korea Football Center in Sinmun-ro, Seoul on the 21st and expressed his feelings and aspirations. Executive Director Kim is a field expert who has played as a player and leader only in Korail in Daejeon, a business football, for 35 years. The reason why his appointment without administrative experience was called a surprise. The Korea Football Association was appointed by Chairman Chung Mong-gyu after much consideration to strengthen on-site communication and seek answers for change and innovation in on-site experience"It was stated as to the background of the appointment. Based on his long field experience, it is expected that he will be able to adjust with a high understanding of various agendas, such as the completion of the division system and the expansion of the student player base, which the Korea Football Association considers as an immediate task.
Executive Director Kim said, `I am grateful and afraid to have an inauguration press conference like this. I never imagined that anyone who criticized the football association outside would be in front of the media as a working director"I think it is a request to lead fresh change, innovation, and reform to a person who has worked silently as a player, coach, and coach in the K3 field throughout his life." He said "The football association was criticized a lot last year. I think it is the first time since its foundation that it has encountered such strong demands for change. Therefore, I stood here with a very heavy responsibility.'
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Executive Director Kim said, `I know well that there are concerns from the outside that the administration will be conducted as an unknown leader. Until now, I have lived honestly thinking only about soccer. I will continue to make efforts to meet the level of fans who love soccer. Please help me push ahead with confidence without running away from the scene."
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▶As I said, my soccer life has been a one-club man in one job. Externally, when you think of me, the player and leader's one-clap man history may come as special, but I have played soccer since elementary school. If I continue for a long time, I think I've been playing my role steadily. I lived my life and met people through soccer. It was a difficult environment, a difficult life, but I met good people with one heart who loved soccer. Two-thirds of my life was lived with the mindset that I just needed to win as an adventurer. In terms of soccer, I think it's 15-25 minutes in the second half. I think I came here to play the last 20 minutes with the thought that those I met through soccer should live a happier life. I'm proud to be here because of my love for soccer.
-Leadership is important to lead the association, but what vision do you have.
▶When you work, you will have problems. I think that if trust is established through communication, the parts that are not working well can be resolved. That's how I've lived. In the future, the soccer community should find the trust of fans. To do so, players, leaders, and administrators must all build trust. I try to communicate honestly and approach truthfully as I have lived so far. I think it will be possible if we approach it with the mindset of developing Korean soccer, not with individual enlightenment. There are many capable leaders, officials. For me, the Football Association is also a new field. There will be difficulties, but I think it can be solved well if you build trust.
-How did you select a coach for the national team under the age of 23.
▶You must be very curious. There is a basic position of the association that a coach should be appointed according to a fair procedure and a reliable part of the fan. However, as you know, the presidential election was delayed by two months, and the composition and reorganization of the executive branch were also delayed, so the appointment of members was delayed. If it's done in a hurry, there's a problem, so I'm going to take an enhanced process in the basic process. The final process is about to take place and I think there will be an appointment announcement within this week.
-The relationship with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is strained. There are concerns about communication problems. What are your thoughts and solutions on the differences between the two groups over the appointment of Hong.
▶It hasn't been long since he was appointed, but he has communicated with the officials in charge of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism several times. I am well aware of the association's needs and improvements. Our association also tries to improve it well as there was a lack of fans' eye level. There are parts of the past that are inexperienced and parts that do not fit the eye level, but they try to improve through communication. I don't think you need to worry too much.
-The problem with the Korea Football Association from the outside is.
▶I have been representing the voice of the field from outside, and I got the opportunity to come inside and see it. The intention on the matter must be accurately communicated. Only then can the administration be carried out properly. I think there are many things to understand about the language spoken by soccer players who have lived in the field for a long time. I'm not saying that those who have been in administration have done anything wrong, but it's true that there was a gap in the language. There seems to be a part where the doctor has not been delivered smoothly. I think my presence here is to accurately interpret and convey such intentions so that the administration can be conducted correctly. It's a short period of time, but I've met many people and I'm trying to build trust.
-Do you have any specific examples.
▶ Most of the field leaders were former players. I'm not used to talking implicitly. When pointing to players or everyday conversations are straightforward. There are parts that can be interpreted differently by the general public. The gap does not mean that the difference in interpretation is large.
-How do you develop youth soccer during your term in office.
▶I'm not from a famous star. It is said that he was a former unknown player and leader. If you compare the national team to a tree, it is a part that blooms like a flower. The youth are invisible. If you can't see it, there are definitely parts that can be neglected. In order for flowers to bloom and fruits to form, the roots must be strong. I have been at the amateur scene for a long time, and there are field leaders, seniors and juniors, and disciples. I'm communicating with them hard. There are tasks such as the use of the playground and participation in the competition for young players who are growing up after entering soccer, but there are many difficulties coming to the association. Although the association has worked hard so far, it is difficult to take root in the overseas system in Korea. I asked you to tell me about the biggest grievances of the field leader, and I'm listening. I would like to comprehensively judge whether there is any part that can be administratively helped in our reality. We are trying to find and implement what would be best in the domestic reality within the term of office.
-Other clubs are not convinced by the association's explanation of the Gwangju issue. Don't you think the association is responsible.
▶I am clearly aware that the association was inexperienced. I thought about the league stability issue. I don't think it's a part where the sweat and effort of the player are wasted due to an unintentional administrative error. In addition to Gwangju, the association has sent an official letter to FIFA based on Pect and is communicating with them. If a decision is made, I will tell you again how to deal with it based on it. The system always tries to settle down perfectly, but since it is a human thing, there is an inexperience. I have no intention of shirking my responsibilities. I will communicate with the K League and find a good way to prevent problems from arising.
-Is there a plan to improve the communication system with the federation and the club.
▶ It has been only a few years since the FIFA Clearing House system was introduced. Listening to the field story, it is a process that is settled not only in us but also abroad. It tries to accurately grasp and communicate with FIFA and AFC. We are accurately grasping this problem and planning to prevent this from happening again after expert opinions and discussions with the federation.
-In the meantime, the role of the executive director is the general administration, but a new role has been created as the vice chairman of strategic planning.
▶ Vice Chairman Lee Yong-soo is a senior who has worked for the association longer than me. As much as the experience is low, there are parts you have done for me. The executive director is in charge of overseeing and taking responsibility for the administration. Vice Chairman Lee Yong-soo is a reasonable person, and I am not a tight person either. I'm getting help from a lot of people and I'm trying to get it.
-What is the fairness reconsideration plan that fans are asking for.
▶You have to be fair when you play games. I remember the association's public hearings when I was outside, and there was a time when I said, "'Fans run at 100 kilometers per hour, but sports organizations fall short of it.'" Rather than having no ability, there are areas where administrators miss external expectations if they work hard. In the future, we are discussing it so that we can adjust to the speed more. I will let you know whenever I come up with a good idea.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
