What Was That About "Let's Hold a Hearing on Hong Myung-bo" at Han Seong-sook's Confirmation Hearing?

[Financial News] At the confirmation hearing for prime minister nominee Han Seong-sook, a remark was made suggesting that a hearing should be held on South Korea national team coach Hong Myung-bo.
Bae Hye-ryeon, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker and chair of the special committee on Han's confirmation hearing, said at the hearing on the 26th, "I heard it joked that instead of holding a confirmation hearing for Han, we should be holding one for coach Hong Myung-bo."
The remark came after independent lawmaker Choi Hyeok-jin criticized the Korea Football Association over the South Korea national team's performance, which left it third in its group in the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage.
Choi argued, "We were busy with the hearing, so I don't know how many years of life we may have gained by not watching football on the 25th, when South Korea played South Africa." He added, "There are claims that a cartel within the football association and a cartel tied to certain universities are ruining South Korean football."
He went on to say, "Why do such cartels exist in places funded by taxpayers' money and leave the public feeling bruised?" He stressed that "structural reform is needed now."
In response, Han said, "As for the parts related to the football association, the entire nation is already angry, so I think it will be resolved well without me having to say more."
Democratic Party lawmaker Park Sun-won said, "They say Guus Hiddink, a coach, is better than Hong Myung-bo, who was a player," and added, "Han was chosen by the president because she is not a typical bureaucrat or professor, but a Hiddink-type figure. Please become like Hiddink."

[email protected] Kim Yun-ho Reporter