Seoul: The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced it has taken legal action against the sports ministry over its demand for disciplinary measures against KFA chief Chung Mong-gyu. This legal move allows Chung to remain a candidate in the upcoming presidential election.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the KFA filed an administrative lawsuit at the Seoul Central District Court on January 21, with the aim of nullifying the ministry's demand to suspend Chung. This demand arose from a ministry probe completed in November, which sought disciplinary action against Chung and other KFA executives due to alleged irregularities, including the contentious hiring of Hong Myung-bo as the men's national team head coach in July.

The KFA had appealed the ministry's ruling, but the appeal was rejected on January 2. The ministry required the KFA's fair play subcommittee to implement its decision by the following Monday. However, the subcommittee, after the KFA's lawsuit filing, opted to delay any decision regarding Chung until the court's verdict is reached.

A KFA representative expressed concerns about the ministry's extensive demands, which targeted nearly 20 employees and executives, emphasizing the KFA's commitment to maintaining its independence and autonomy, as aligned with FIFA's regulations. A suspension for Chung would have rendered him ineligible for the election, jeopardizing his bid for a fourth term.

Chung faces competition from Huh Jung-moo, a former national team head coach, and Shin Moon-sun, an ex-player and current sports data analysis professor at Myongji University. The election was initially scheduled for January 8 but was postponed due to an injunction filed by Huh, who contested the KFA's election management processes.

On January 9, the KFA rescheduled the election for January 23, though both Huh and Shin disputed this date, claiming they never consented to it. The election was further delayed indefinitely after the entire election management committee resigned on January 10. The KFA is now working to reassemble the committee to resume election preparations by early February.

Both Huh and Shin have criticized the KFA's legal actions as attempts to shield Chung, and they have urged for his disciplinary action before the February deadline.