KFA files lawsuit over fake news targeting coach Park Hang-seo, national team

KFA said it has received multiple reports of fabricated statements involving national team officials and players. These posts aimed to create controversies that did not exist, while also attacking KFA president Chung Mong-gyu and national team head coach Hong Myung-bo, it said.

Initially, the KFA refrained from taking legal action, but the volume of fake content has increased recently.

"Many unreasonable claims, such as Park Hang-seo being appointed as national team coach or FIFA disciplining the KFA, have been continuously spread," the KFA wrote in a statement. "We have decided to act as fan complaints surged."

The KFA announced on Wednesday that it had filed a lawsuit at the Seoul Central District Court. The federation stated that it would no longer ignore the malicious fabrication and spreading of false information on social media and video platforms like YouTube, which distorts facts and damages the reputation of the national team and the KFA.

Coach Park Hang-seo (L) takes a photo with Son Heung-min after South Korea beat Iraq 2-0 in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers at Basra Stadium, Iraq on June 5, 2025. Photo by Facebook/Park Hang-seo

Park currently serves as vice president of the KFA, supporting the national team. He is also the honorary president of Vietnam's Bac Ninh FC and founded a youth football academy in Vietnam.

Since leaving the Vietnam national team in January 2023, Park, 68, has not coached any other team, although rumors have linked him to South Korea, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore and India.

The lawsuit reflects the KFA's determination to restore fan trust, particularly ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The federation also aims to warn individuals spreading false information online.

"Acts that incite public opinion with unfounded falsehoods and pursue personal gain can never be considered healthy criticism," Kim Yun-ju, head of the KFA Legal Department, said, as quoted by Chosun. "We will continue strong and sustained responses so that members of the national team and the association are protected from malicious rumors and can focus solely on the development of Korean football."

The KFA emphasized that fake news is a "defamation beyond acceptable limits". Unlike official channels, social media platforms make it extremely difficult to identify the authors of such content.

South Korea have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, finishing first in Group B of the third qualifying round in Asia. Since 1986, South Korea have participated in 11 consecutive World Cups, the most of any Asian nation. Their best result was fourth place in 2002. In the most recent tournament in Qatar in 2022, South Korea was eliminated in the round of 16 after losing 1-4 to Brazil.