Coach Park Hang Seo will not attend the Korean Football Association hearing

Former Vice President of the Korea Football Association (KFA) Park Hang Seo submitted a written statement asking to be excused from the parliamentary hearing, stating that he is currently residing in Thailand.

Mr. Park was previously called upon by lawmakers Lim Oh Kyung and Jin Sun Mi of the Democratic Party of Korea to testify as a witness regarding the Korean national team's World Cup performance and the management of the national squad.

Meanwhile, reference witnesses such as Park Joo Ho, Park Ji Sung, and Lee Young Pyo also announced they would not attend due to personal schedule conflicts.

According to sources from Korean football circles, yesterday (July 15), former KFA Vice President Park Hang Seo, who served as the head of the support team for the Korean national team at the 2026 World Cup and was summoned as a witness for the National Assembly hearing on the Korea Football Association, sent a written explanation requesting absence.

Accordingly, Mr. Park stated that he could not attend the hearing because he has work commitments in Thailand.

Previously, just before the 2026 World Cup, Mr. Park was appointed head coach of Kanchanaburi Power FC, a club competing in Thai League 2.

After completing his role as head of the support team for the Korean national team at the World Cup, he resigned as Vice President of the Korea Football Association and went to Thailand to take on a new role.

Mr. Park was proposed as a witness by lawmakers Lim Oh Kyung and Jin Sun Mi of the Democratic Party of Korea for the hearing on issues related to the Korea Football Association, scheduled for July 22. The questioning will focus on "the national team's World Cup performance and the management of the national team."

According to Korean National Assembly law, witnesses at hearings are required to attend. However, if a written explanation is submitted and the reason is deemed legitimate, attendance may be waived.

Nonetheless, it is known that Mr. Park Hang Seo also expressed that if the National Assembly requests it, he is willing to answer questions in writing.

Meanwhile, Park Joo Ho, a member of the Korean Football Reform Committee, who was invited to attend as a reference witness, also informed the National Assembly on the same day that he would not attend due to personal schedule reasons. Unlike witnesses, reference witnesses are not obligated to appear at the hearing.

Previously, two other reference witnesses—co-chair of the Korean Football Reform Committee Park Ji Sung and member Lee Young Pyo—also announced they would be absent due to personal schedule conflicts.

Coach Park Hang Seo has been in Thailand since July 10, starting his coaching work at Kanchanaburi FC in preparation for the 2026/27 Thai League 2 season.

Star News reported that Thailand's Kanchanaburi Club has strengthened its coaching staff for the 2026–2027 season by appointing Diego Gomez as assistant coach and Noh Young Soo as fitness coach.

Diego Gomez previously worked in American soccer, holds a UEFA Pro coaching license, and once coached the American Samoa national team. As a player, he came through the youth systems of both Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Mr. Diego Gomez stated: "To embark on a new challenge alongside Coach Park Hang Seo is a great honor. I will work hard with the players to help the team achieve its goals.

Fitness coach Noh Young Soo previously worked with the U15 team of Suwon Samsung Bluewings, holds a C-level coaching certificate, and a Level 1 fitness certificate from the Korea Football Association.