On the 7th, the late coach Jong-Hwan Park (1938.2~2023.10), who made history for Korean soccer to reach the semifinals for the first time in the history of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) competitions, passed away. As a result, all soccer players and officials paid tribute. There is no need to discuss the late coach Park Jong-hwan any further. His leadership career is brilliant, and the leadership he left behind on Korean soccer and its leaders is huge. However, after the passing of the late director Park Jong-hwan, there is some sadness, so it remains a regret. (The late director Jong-Hwan Park led his leadership career and reached the peak of splendor more than any other leader.
However, in his old age due to chronic illness, the splendor of his life as a leader was ‘unrealized’ and only his shabbiness stood out, making him realize the transience of his life as a leader. Indeed, the semifinals of the FIFA U-20 World Youth Football Championship in Mexico in 1983, achieved by the late coach Jong-Hwan Park, and three consecutive wins in the professional soccer (K-League) regular season from 1993 to 1995 are ‘unprecedented’ achievements in Korean soccer. am. Therefore, corresponding courtesy is considered natural. Nevertheless, during his lifetime, the late director Park Jong-hwan was treated with complete indifference and was only treated with respect by a very small number of his students and certain acquaintances. Of course, the fact that the Korea Football Association (KFA), albeit belatedly, recognized the late coach Park Jong-hwan’s achievements and held a funeral ceremony as the president of the association as a courtesy is worthy of applause.
Needless to say, the driving force behind Korean soccer’s current development was the presence of a leader like the late coach Park Jong-hwan. If so, there is a natural need to give respect to those who contributed. Accordingly, coach Guus Hiddink (76, Netherlands), who led the team to the semifinals of the 2002 Korea-Japan FIFA World Cup, comes to the fore. Coach Hiddink was appointed as an honorary citizen (Seoul City) for leading the team to the semifinals and was even awarded an honorary doctorate in business administration unrelated to soccer by the university (Ulsan University). To this day, he is revered as a national hero and enjoys various benefits from KFA. This is a huge benefit that cannot be compared to the late director Park Jong-hwan.
When looking directly at the reality of Korean soccer of the times, there is a big difference between the semifinals achieved by (the late) coach Jong-hwan Park in 1983 and the semifinals achieved by coach Hiddink in 2002. That is, the leadership achievements of the late coach Jong-hwan Park, who brought Korean soccer, which was considered one of the peripheries of world soccer, to the top four in world soccer, are superior. Therefore, the late coach Park Jong-hwan should have benefited from the same courtesy as coach Hiddink during his life. However, the late director Jong-hwan Park said his final farewell to the world without receiving such respect and benefits.
Accordingly, with the late coach Park Jong-hwan as a ‘teacher’, KFA and the Korea Professional Football League should take a deep interest in establishing new regulations to implement special policies to honor contributors who have devoted themselves to the development of Korean football. KFA’s 2023 budget is approximately 158.1 billion won. This boasts the highest budget among the 57 sports event affiliates of the Korea Sports Council. This enormous budget is the budget set aside for the cost of building a comprehensive soccer center, operating national teams for each age group, 17 city and provincial soccer associations, holding national competitions, revitalizing soccer, etc.
However, if KFA shows a little interest, it is possible to provide financial and material treatment to the contributors who have devoted themselves to the development of Korean soccer. This also includes ways to utilize FIFA World Cup dividends and 22 billion won in Sports Toto earnings. On the other hand, the execution of a portion of KFA’s own profits of 88.7 billion won as of 2023 may also be considered. However, this does not mean that you should be mindful of indiscriminate courtesy. In any case, strict criteria such as merit and age should be applied to the selection of recipients of courtesy. There is a need to specify such public matters as performance in FIFA tournaments and the semifinals of the Olympics, as well as age, such as being over 70 years old.
There are currently no such contributors to the development of Korean soccer. When faced with this, Ye Woo’s indifference to the life contributions of the late director Park Jong-hwan truly remains a stain. Therefore, in the future, KFA should not be negligent in honoring contributors who have dedicated themselves to the development of Korean soccer as part of a plan to enhance the pride and pride of soccer players and solidify ‘Daedong unity.’ If so, the first object of this objection is the Korea OB Football Association. The members of the OB Soccer Club devoted themselves solely to soccer under harsh conditions and environments in the past and built the foundation for today’s Korean soccer. Therefore, there can be no doubt that he is a dedicated contributor to the development of Korean soccer.
If KFA treats these contributors poorly, soccer players will inevitably feel skeptical about their value. KFA must face this and expand support with greater interest than currently available so that it can fulfill its mission and responsibility. Just like the KFA, the Professional Football League’s duty and responsibility to treat contributors with respect is by no means lighter than that of the KFA. It is no exaggeration to say that one axis of the K-League, which has 40 years of history, is the leader. As a result, the late coach Jong-hwan Park was able to achieve three consecutive wins, and the resulting mutual competition accelerated the development of professional soccer. Therefore, the Professional Football League should not be negligent in respecting retired leaders who have appeared on the K-League stage.
There is also a side where it is desirable to set strict selection regulations for those who are eligible for such honors and apply them only to leaders who meet them. The first step is for the Professional Football League itself to give permission to watch K-League games and provide opportunities to participate in related events such as award ceremonies. Implementation of this is only a change in thinking and is by no means an unreasonable courtesy that increases the financial expenditures of the Professional Football League. It has been a long time since the Professional Football League stood alone. Currently, the Professional Football League is imposing large disciplinary fines (several hundred to tens of millions of won) based on rewards and punishments on coaches, players, and each team. But what about this fine? No details of the expenditure have been officially disclosed.
Despite this, none of the leaders, players, or teams are raising any issues about this. Even the Professional Football Players Association is a ‘holy fool’. Accordingly, the Professional Football League should do its best to build trust by setting aside a portion of the accumulated disciplinary fines as a special management fee and stipulating it as a courtesy payment for retired coaches who contributed to the development of the K-League. There is no one who will criticize or criticize the material and financial expenditures as a courtesy to the contributors who have devoted themselves to the development of Korean soccer and the K-League.
Rather, we just welcome it. More than ever before, the message presented to KFA and the Professional Football League by the passing of the late coach Jong-Hwan Park is greater. As time passes, everything is forgotten. However, the achievements that the late coach Park Jong-hwan left behind in Korean soccer are so great that they should not be forgotten. (The late director Jong-hwan Park became an eternal star.) However, there is no doubt that that star will shine forever as a bright indicator for the development of Korean soccer. If we forget the two words ‘courtesy’ of those who truly contribute to the development of Korean soccer, there will be no future for Korean soccer.