Seoul: The parliamentary sports committee decided Thursday to hold a hearing on the national football federation later this month over a controversy surrounding its management following South Korea's early exit from this year's FIFA World Cup. During a plenary session, the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee adopted the plan to hold the hearing on the Korea Football Association (KFA) on July 22.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the committee aims to address various issues at the parliamentary level, including the process of appointing the head coach of the national football team and the overall management of the KFA. Rep. Lee Jae-jung of the ruling Democratic Party (DP), who chairs the committee, emphasized the need to discuss ways to normalize the organization.

The panel has finalized a list of 13 witnesses and 10 people to provide testimony at the hearing. Among those included are former head coach Hong Myung-bo and Chung Mong-gyu, who resigned as head of the national football federation earlier this week. Hong stepped down on June 28 following the team's elimination, and it remains uncertain whether he or Chung will attend the hearing.

Also named to testify are South Korea captain Son Heung-min, who led the national team, and Hwang Hee-chan. The session was conducted without lawmakers from the main opposition People Power Party, as they have been boycotting committee meetings in protest against the DP's unilateral election of chairs of 10 parliamentary standing committees and a special budget committee.