The Korea Football Association has issued a public apology after media reports revealed it funded sexual services for foreign referees during international matches more than a decade ago.
The association said the incidents, uncovered in a 2016 sports ministry investigation and reported by broadcaster JTBC, occurred between March 2011 and March 2012.
According to the report, corporate credit cards were used on multiple occasions to pay for trips to massage parlours and adult establishments in Seoul and other cities hosting matches, including 2014 World Cup and 2012 Olympics qualifiers.
“We are deeply sorry for the disappointment and concern caused by the various issues and controversies surrounding the association since the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” the KFA said in a statement.
“We express our sincere apologies for causing concerns over a range of issues, from a parliamentary hearing and an unprecedented police raid to media reports about incidents from more than a decade ago that even members within the federation were unaware of.”
The association stressed that such conduct is not occurring now.
“The association makes clear that inappropriate conduct of this kind, or the use of corporate cards for such purposes, is absolutely not currently taking place.”
It pledged sweeping reforms to strengthen transparency and restore integrity.
The apology comes amid wider scrutiny of the KFA following South Korea’s early exit from the 2026 World Cup, a parliamentary hearing and a recent police raid on its offices.
