Allegations of corruption involving Moon Jin-hee, the former head of the Korea Football Association's refereeing committee, surfaced during a parliamentary audit.
Rep. Cho Kye-won of the Democratic Party of Korea disclosed a tip-off on the 21st at a National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee audit, alleging that Moon demanded money from referees and referee assessors while serving in the post.
In the recording released by Cho, Moon is heard saying: "I've been around a long time and I'm running out of ammunition, so I called to ask for some ammunition," "This has gone on too long for both of us," and "Send me some pocket money, send it to an account, I'll send you an account number."
Cho said the recording showed "that Moon Jin-hee demanded money from referees and referee assessors while serving as head of the refereeing committee." He added: "This is not simply a matter of money changing hands. If money was exchanged in connection with the number of match assignments or the promotion and demotion of referees, this goes beyond bribery and is a grave matter that destroys trust in the entire refereeing system."
Moon, who had been designated as a witness for the audit, did not appear. Cho said Moon deliberately avoided attending, failing to submit a statement explaining his absence and changing his contact number.
Moon resigned on Aug. 3 this year, citing personal reasons. He had been criticized by lawmakers for an uncooperative attitude and his remarks at a Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee hearing on the football association held at the National Assembly on July 30.
Cho also alleged that a former referee who was arrested and punished over a 2015 match-fixing case involving a K League club, and who received a lifetime ban from the football association, has taken a position as the head of a provincial club outside the K League and still wields influence in refereeing circles.
"People who faced criminal prosecution for match-fixing are still exerting influence over referee assignments, decisions and the evaluation process for referee promotion and demotion," Cho said. "This has already gone beyond a flawed system — the whole matter warrants criminal prosecution and a criminal investigation."
Lee Yong-soo, vice president of the Korea Football Association and acting president, said: "Under the association's official registration procedures, people with disqualifying records cannot register." He added: "We believe this is a case of someone personally using a title online."
On allegations that a referee assessor pressured officials to make calls against a particular team, Lee said: "The sports fair play committee investigated it. The committee then decided to file a complaint with the police and with the Sports Ethics Center."