Why did police say the KFA case may be difficult to prosecute?

A National Police Agency official said the statute of limitations appears to have expired for the charge of facilitating prostitution. Police had already said the time limit posed a legal hurdle for allegations dating back 15 years.

Police say statute of limitations expired for KFA's sexual entertainment allegations

Q: What are the Korea Football Association sexual entertainment allegations about?

The allegations say the KFA paid for sexual entertainment for foreign referees at massage parlors and other adult establishments before and after international matches in Korea between March 2011 and March 2012. Police said the matter concerns a possible facilitating prostitution charge.

Q: How does the KFA sexual entertainment case connect to Hong Myung-bo?

The allegations were brought back into focus during an investigation into the KFA’s controversial 2024 appointment of Hong Myung-bo as head coach of the men’s national team. The allegations stem from a 2016 government audit report, and the KFA has said it will reform transparency after apologizing.

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Summary

Police say the statute of limitations has expired for allegations that the Korea Football Association offered sexual entertainment to foreign referees between 2011 and 2012. A National Police Agency official said the charge appears to be facilitating prostitution, though authorities will look further into the case. The allegations came from a 2016 government audit report and surfaced during an investigation into the KFA’s 2024 appointment of Hong Myung-bo as men’s national team coach. The KFA has apologized and promised reforms to strengthen transparency.

Key Facts

The allegations concern sexual entertainment for visiting referees at massage parlors and other adult establishments before and after international matches held in Korea between March 2011 and March 2012.
Police said the statute of limitations issue affects the charge of facilitating prostitution.
The case stems from a recently publicized 2016 government audit report.
The allegations arose while an investigation was under way into the KFA’s controversial 2024 appointment of Hong Myung-bo as head coach of the men’s national team.
The KFA has apologized over the allegations and promised reforms to strengthen transparency.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 19, 2026 2:25 pm KST

The signboard for the Korean Football Association is seen outside its headquarters in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, Aug. 6. Yonhap

Police have determined the statute of limitations has expired regarding allegations that the Korea Football Association (KFA) offered sexual entertainment to foreign referees between 2011 and 2012, an official said Wednesday.

The football governing body recently faced allegations that it paid for sexual entertainment for visiting referees at massage parlors and other adult establishments before and after international matches held in Korea between March 2011 and March 2012.

"It appears that the statute of limitations has expired for the charge of facilitating prostitution," the National Police Agency official told reporters in a briefing, adding that authorities will look further into the case.

Police previously said the statute of limitations posed a legal hurdle to investigating the allegations dating back 15 years.

Under Korea's law, the statute of limitations of 15 years or longer only applies to major severe offenses, such as those punishable by life imprisonment.

The allegations stem from a recently publicized 2016 government audit report while an investigation has been under way into the association's controversial 2024 appointment of Hong Myung-bo as head coach of the men's national team.

The KFA has apologized over the sexual entertainment allegations, promising reforms to strengthen transparency.

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