Seoul: The national football governing body announced Wednesday it will appeal a recent court ruling backing the sports ministry's demand for disciplinary action against its leader.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korea Football Association (KFA) reached this decision during its board of directors meeting held earlier in the day. "Following an in-depth discussion, we decided we would need a judgment from a higher court in terms of fact-finding and legal interpretation," the KFA stated.

On April 23, the Seoul Administrative Court ruled that the sports ministry's demand for disciplinary action against KFA President Chung Mong-gyu was justified and fell within the scope of its permissible discretion. This demand was based on a series of irregularities uncovered during the ministry's audit in 2024, including the controversial hiring of Hong Myung-bo as the head coach of the men's national team.

Previously, the KFA secured a court injunction to suspend the disciplinary demand, allowing Chung to win his fourth term as KFA president in February last year. However, the ministry reiterated its demand for action last week, prompting the KFA to extend the legal battle instead.

KFA Vice President Lee Yong-soo, who presided over the board meeting in Chung's absence, emphasized that the football body "humbly accepted" the court's ruling and recognized its responsibility to address the concerns of football fans. He clarified, "Our decision to appeal this ruling is not intended to waste time, nor are we trying to use the upcoming FIFA World Cup as our shield. We've made this decision after a painstaking process so that we could receive an additional judgment with the scope of a legal process."

The KFA expressed its commitment to improving administrative transparency while providing optimal support for the men's national team ahead of the June 11-July 19 World Cup.