The Korea Football Association (KFA) has announced a set of bold reforms aimed at establishing a more transparent and efficient governance structure within the organization. On March 20, 2025, KFA officials revealed three major innovation plans: Transparent Administration, Ethical Administration, and Responsible Administration, which they believe will lay down the foundation for a new era in Korean football management.
The first of these plans, called Transparent Administration, focuses on enhancing the governance structure of the KFA. To achieve this, the KFA aims to expand the electoral base for presidential elections by revising internal regulations. This includes increasing the number of electors who will participate in the election process. Additionally, the KFA plans to strengthen the expertise of its board of directors. This will be pursued through a personnel recommendation system that involves various external functional groups, ensuring that qualified individuals are appointed based on merit. Moreover, the KFA will introduce mandatory management disclosures at a level comparable to listed companies, rendering transparency in its financial dealings robust.
In a bid to bolster its external partnerships, KFA will establish a new External Cooperation Office. This office is designed to enhance collaborative efforts with affiliated organizations and other institutions, reflecting a proactive approach to stakeholder engagement. Furthermore, a new spokesperson system is set to be implemented to improve communication effectiveness.
The second major reform, Ethical Administration, aims to ensure that KFA operations strictly comply with laws and regulations. This plan encompasses several initiatives aimed at promoting better regulatory practices. The KFA intends to conduct a thorough review of its existing regulations, integrating new administrative procedures that follow updated legal frameworks. Alongside this, the KFA will formulate and execute performance plans aimed at addressing compliance gaps highlighted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which oversees sports governance in the country. To enhance the rigor of internal audits, a new Compliance Office will be created, strengthening the KFA's overall audit capabilities.
The final initiative, Responsible Administration, is poised to reinforce the KFA’s role as a pivotal leadership entity within Korean football. To accomplish this, the KFA is focusing on restructuring its organizational framework, specifically by enhancing the subcommittees’ functionalities. This includes appointing dedicated teams to address amateur football issues and operate on-site during competitions, ensuring immediate support and responsiveness. Importantly, the association is also preparing a dedicated support team for the upcoming 2026 North/Central America World Cup, ensuring that Korean football operations are aligned with international standards.
Each subcommittee, including those focused on technology, competitions, and refereeing, will adopt a more independent decision-making structure. Such enhancements are designed to ensure proficiency and accountability across various facets of football administration.
These three reform proposals underscore a significant shift towards advanced governance practices within the KFA. The plans are to be presented for review at the forthcoming general assembly of the KFA, where they will be scrutinized before final implementation. According to the KFA, the implementation of these innovation plans will commence once they receive the green light at the upcoming assembly, following the approval of the new president by the Korea Sports Council.
With increasing scrutiny on sports organizations worldwide to adopt more transparent practices, the KFA’s efforts reflect a timely and necessary response to calls for reform. The focus on accountability, ethical governance, and transparency may serve not only to bolster its internal operations but also to restore public trust and enhance the overall health of Korean football.
