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| The 2nd K-League Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held at Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Shinmun-ro, Seoul, on the 16th. Chairman Chung Mong-joon, who was selected in the Contributor category, is giving his acceptance speech. Shinmun-ro = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.09.15/ |
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| The 2nd K-League Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held at Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Shinmun-ro, Seoul, on the 16th. Chairman Chung Mong-joon, who was selected in the Contributor category, is taking a commemorative photo. Shinmun-ro = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.09.15/ |
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| The 2nd K-League Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held at Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Shinmun-ro, Seoul, on the 16th. Chairman Chung Mong-joon, who was selected in the Contributor category, is taking a commemorative photo with Chairman Kim Ho-gon. Shinmun-ro = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.09.15/ |
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If the past does not exist, there is no present or future. The era of 3 million K-League spectators following the 1st and 2nd parts of the platform was possible because of their sweat, tears, and fighting spirit. A new legend was born in 1983 in Korean professional football.
Chung Mong-joon, honorary chairman of the Korea Football Association, who changed the stream of Korean soccer, has finally been recorded as the history of the K-League. He was inducted into the K League Hall of Fame. He was named in the Contributor category for the second time after the late POSCO Honorary Chairman Park Tae-joon. It is a choice without disagreement. Chung started the professional league in 1994. He served as the first and second president.
He introduced the K-League title sponsor system while in office. It also laid the foundation for the development of the K-League by expanding it to 10 club systems through the establishment of Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, Suwon, and Daejeon. Chairman Chung played a key role in hosting and successfully hosting the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup while serving as the president of the Korea Football Association. The national soccer fever of the World Cup semi-finals led to the success of the K-League.
World Cup stadiums built in 10 cities across the country have been reborn as home stadiums for K-League clubs. It had a profound impact on the development of K-League infrastructure and raising awareness. In addition, he served as vice president and executive member of FIFA, raising Korea's status in international soccer. The Korea Professional Federation has decided to dedicate Chung's contribution to the category of "Honorary Hall of Fame" in honor of Chung's achievements in driving the systematization of K-League and Korean soccer.
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| The 2nd K-League Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held at Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Shinmun-ro, Seoul, on the 16th. Chairman Kim Ho-gon is giving a greeting. Shinmun-ro = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.09.15/ |
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| Asan Policy Institute/ 2nd K League Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony/ Induction Group/ President Kwon Oh-gap of the Korea Professional Football Association, Kim Ho, Dejan, Chung Mong-joon, Kim Ju-sung, the late coach Yoo Sang-chul's son, Kim Byung-ji/ Photo by Kwak Dong-hyuk |
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At the induction ceremony, Kim Ho-gon, chairman of the Soccer Love Sharing Foundation, who assisted as an executive director during Chung's time, served as a guide. "The president thought deeply about the way for Korean soccer to go on to the international stage. The 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, where soccer diplomacy shone, always fully supported what was necessary to approach global standards, changed everything in Korean soccer.
Chairman Kim also said "Chairman Kim has been with us for numerous first steps in the K-League. It established the concept of home base, which is the basis of professional soccer. He also built a soccer center, which is home to soccer players. The chairman once told me that football is not just a sport, but a culture and future of a society. Today's K-League, where games are held across the country and cheers are filled, is located in a strong system established by the chairman. He introduced himself as a man who truly loves Korean soccer."
Chairman Chung seemed to have mixed feelings on stage. He said "Our country's soccer has made a lot of progress over the past 30 years, including professional soccer. It's all thanks to the football lovers and leaders here. expressing one's appreciation.' And he replaced glory with loving advice. Chairman Chung said, `We had a warm-up match with the U.S. and Mexico not too long ago, and our FIFA ranking is 23rd. Japan is 17th. In the 2002 World Cup, we reached the semifinals and Japan reached the round of 16. I think our soccer skills should be better than this. I want soccer players to work harder."
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| The 2nd K-League Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held at Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Shinmun-ro, Seoul, on the 16th. Chairman Chung Mong-joon, who was selected in the Contributor category, is giving his acceptance speech. Shinmun-ro = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.09.15/ |
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| The 2nd K-League Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held at Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Shinmun-ro, Seoul, on the 16th. Director Kim Ho, Dejan, Kim Joo-sung, and the late Yoo Sang-chul's sons Yoo Sun-woo and Kim Byung-ji, who were inducted into the Hall of Fame, are taking commemorative photos. Shinmun-ro = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.09.15/ |
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He also directed the administration of Korean soccer. Chairman Chung said, `Co-hosting with Japan at the 2002 World Cup was possible because I was elected as FIFA vice president. After being elected president of the Korea Football Association, the president said he had to work outside. I ran for the FIFA vice president representing Asia, but not many people said they wouldn't be able to do it. "I got 11 votes and won by one vote. "When I went to FIFA, they said that the 2002 World Cup was definitely played in Japan, so I said that I shouldn't do that. He said the economy may be ahead of us, but his soccer skills are worse than ours. We don't pick students who are good at studying. It's like picking a player with a lot of money at home, he said. I had the pleasure of co-hosting and reaching the semifinals by saying things that worked and couldn't. The World Cup will be held in the United States next year, and I hope that our association, the federation, and the fans will join forces to play a good game and give great joy to our people." It was a remark made by Chairman Chung.
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| The 2nd K-League Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held at Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Shinmun-ro, Seoul, on the 16th. He is taking a commemorative photo with director Kim Ho and president Kwon Oh-gap, who were selected for the leadership category. Shinmun-ro = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.09.15/ |
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| The 2nd K-League Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held at Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Shinmun-ro, Seoul, on the 16th. Director Kim Ho, who was selected for the leadership category, is giving his acceptance speech. Shinmun-ro = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.09.15/ |
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Former Suwon Samsung coach Kim Ho was selected for the leadership category. Coach Kim has recorded a total of 208 wins, 154 draws and 181 losses in the K-League while serving as the head coach of Hyundai Tigers, Suwon Samsung and Daejeon Citizen. The highlight was when he was the manager of Suwon. He was appointed as Suwon's first manager in 1995 and led the new team to the strongest position in the league. Starting with two consecutive K-League victories in 1998 and 1999, he conquered Asia in the 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 seasons. He won the Asian Club Championship (now the Asian Champions League) for the second time in a row. In 2002, he led the team to the FA Cup (currently the Korea Cup) and received a lot of love with 'winning contractor'. Director Kim said "He was over 80. Still, it's my first time at an award ceremony like this, so I'm puzzled. Everyone is healthy, and I hope these days will happen often.'
The K-League Hall of Fame was established to commemorate the contributions of those who shone in Korean professional football and to leave their footsteps in history to mark the 40th anniversary of the launch of the K-League in 2023. Choi Soon-ho and Hong Myung-bo and Shin Tae-yong in the Player category, Kim Jung-nam in the Leader category, and late POSCO Honorary Chairman Park Tae-joon in the Contributor category were named as the first Hall of Fame inductees in 2023.
Chairman Chung and head coach Kim were awarded commemorative jerseys and trope along with the K-League achievements along with the late Yoo Sang-chul and other players in the player sector, including Kim Joo-sung, Kim Byung-ji and Dejan. The trophy was emblazoned with a pure gold medal emblazoned with the symbol 'Hall of Fame', adding to the authority of the induction.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
