Football in Korea

Football is more than just a sport in South Korea—it's a source of national pride and identity. From the 2002 World Cup semifinals to Son Heung-Min’s global stardom, Korean football has made a name for itself in the global football community. Yet, beneath these successes lies a system that struggles to consistently develop future stars. The Korea Football Association (KFA) has long been plagued by a history of internal fragmentation. The endless internal turmoil within the association has stunted youth development in Korea, forcing some of the brightest talents to leave the country for a better future. If the players begin to lose faith in the KFA and flock out, the overall competitiveness within the nation will dip and lead to weaker performances in international tournaments.

The Fragmented Structure of the KFA

The KFA is responsible for overseeing football at all levels in South Korea, from grassroots programs to the senior national team. However, its internal structure has long been marked by instability and division, hampering its ability to fulfill this role effectively.

Currently, the association is split into two parties. Led by the current KFA president Chung Mong-Gyu, the Chung faction currently holds the most power within the association, with his position as the chairman of HDC Hyundai Development Company playing a huge role in his power game. The Chung faction’s focus is on maximizing profit from various events organized by the association. Directly locking horns is the “ex-players” group. Composed of former players, this group prioritizes the sport’s technical aspects. Due to this difference, these two parties have always quarreled with each other, rarely able to find common ground.

A prime example of this impasse is the recent selection process of the Korean national team’s manager, taking place right after the 2023 Qatar Asian Cup. A task force was assembled and given five months to find three candidates fit to lead the national team back to its former glory. Aiming to utilize their experience as professional players, numerous “ex-players” members were selected. However, it was revealed that the KFA was already leaning towards Hong Myeong-Bo, who did not even make the top three. Ultimately, Hong was appointed as the new manager. This case epitomizes the deep distrust currently plaguing the KFA.

How Fragmentation Impacts Youth Development

At the core of the KFA’s responsibilities lies youth development, and this is where the effects of fragmentation are most evident. The KFA’s divisions have made nurturing young talent an inconsistent process. For instance, ever since its collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2008, the KFA has aimed to implement changes like limited playing time for youth players and the creation of 8-player leagues. These changes, meant to prevent injuries, were often halted due to internal backlash. Like this, the KFA is rarely able to implement and maintain necessary changes, leaving the youth programs unable to provide adequate tools for players to flourish.

One of the most damaging outcomes of the KFA’s internal fragmentation is the absence of a unified youth development strategy. The growth of amateur football culture is key to the overall development of football in Korea, and the KFA’s efforts in this area have been lacking. Youth programs currently lack clear KFA standards. The programs rely on producing promising young talent for schools and teams to recruit. While this issue exists elsewhere, the “luck” factor plays a larger role in Korea. If more talented players happen to live in a single district, the district will likely receive an unmatched level of extra attention from schools and teams. This leads to various forms of additional support, ranging from equipment to matchday experiences. All these forms of support lead to an inequality in experience among the youth players, which is an issue the KFA must be able to tackle.

Another consequence of the KFA’s fragmentation is the "talent drain," a phenomenon where many of South Korea’s bright young footballers choose to leave the country to further their development. Countries like Germany, England, and the Netherlands have become prime destinations for South Korean players seeking opportunities to grow. In the past, players like Lee Young-Pyo and Ki Sung-Yueng proved themselves in Korea before going overseas. Nowadays, more and more talented youngsters are eager to leave Korea, and this compulsion to leave the country reveals deep flaws and distrust in the domestic system. In fact, current superstars like Son Heung-Min and Lee Kang-In have never even spent a single year under the domestic youth program. This leaves people with the impression that the key to success is leaving Korea.

This talent drain has significant long-term consequences. It reduces the quality of local players, weakening the domestic K-League. This widens the gap between homegrown and international players. Plus, the cohesion of the national team is also at risk. While international exposure can benefit individual players, heavy reliance on foreign systems leaves many with a weakened sense of connection to their home country. As more players begin to lose this emotional attachment, it will only become tougher for the KFA to elevate the overall quality of domestic football. This would also lead to hardship for the national team to present a united front in international competitions.

A Way Forward for the KFA

For decades, football has been a constant source of recreation for South Koreans. While there are other genres of sports like baseball and esports that the country has had global success in, they do not come close to football in terms of the longevity of their success and their nationwide impact. Given how football has such meaning in this country, it is imperative that the KFA finds a way to resolve its ongoing internal conflict.

First and foremost, the KFA needs stable and transparent leadership. Constant turnover in executive positions has led to inconsistency and a lack of continuity in policy. Fixed leadership terms and reduced political interference could foster long-term focus. By prioritizing a clear and consistent vision for youth development, the KFA can avoid the short-term thinking that has often derailed progress. This requires a strategic plan that outlines specific goals for youth programs and ensures that future leaders are committed to those goals. 

Once stable leadership is in place, a national standard for youth development needs to be established. This would involve the KFA working closely with K-League teams, local academies, and schools to establish a unified curriculum with national benchmarks for coaching, fitness, and technical skills. This way, the KFA can ensure that every young player has access to a high standard of development. Centralized oversight would also help close the gap between elite and underfunded programs, creating a more equitable system for nurturing talent. Over the past few years, the KFA has been testing out new ways to spotlight underfunded youth programs. There has been an increase in the number of youth tournaments that are sponsored and broadcasted by the KFA, providing more chances for players to showcase their skillset. The KFA has also begun to sponsor former professionals turned influencers like Cho Won-Hee and Kim Young-Kwang to raise awareness for youth football. This is just one example of how the KFA can utilize its various resources to further aid youth players.

With these changes, the Korean football community will end up with a healthier football culture. Ideally, if the KFA creates an environment in which players feel like they can reach their full potential, there will be an increase in the number of quality players with emotional ties to the country. Once the number of quality players increases, the national team will be able to come up with various combinations of game plans in tournaments, increasing the chance of good performances. As the national team grows, the fanbase will provide more support by attending various KFA events with greater enthusiasm. The stylish brand of football displayed by the national team in the 2022 Qatar World Cup has already proved how quality football leads to fervent fan support. This performance has reignited the fire in the hearts of many football fans, as they were shown a glimpse of the heights Korean football can reach. Fans have since displayed increased interest in the administrative aspects of the sport, which is a good start for the growth of this nation’s football culture.

Rebuilding the Future of South Korean Football

The Korea Football Association’s internal fragmentation has cast a long shadow over the domestic football scene. Yet, the story of Korean football has always been one of resilience and transformation. Reforming the KFA is more than just an administrative challenge—it is an opportunity to redefine football in South Korea. A united KFA, committed to nurturing homegrown talent, can inspire a new era of success. With the right vision and commitment, South Korea can rise again. The road may be long, but the rewards will be remarkable: a national team that plays with heart, a league that thrives with talent, and a country united through its love of the game. All of this can empower the next generation of athletes and give fans a renewed sense of pride.