New soccer league chief to improve games, service to fans

The new commissioner of the domestic pro soccer K-League said Thursday that both the league and clubs can be financially independent if they attract fans with good games and service.

Chung Mong-gyu (photo), 49, was unanimously selected as the ninth head of the league Thursday in a board meeting and will serve a three-year term.

He said, “The most important thing is to attract many fans. I want to make soccer the most popular sport (in Korea).”

The following is excerpts from his news conference at the Korea Football Association headquarters in Seoul.

Q: You have managed many teams as owner of a pro soccer team for more than a decade. What is your biggest regret in the K-League?

Chung: I`ve managed soccer teams since taking over Ulsan Hyundai FC in 1989 for the first time and then Jeonbuk and Busan. It was regrettable that soccer clubs were not financially independent. To be financially independent, you must provide good service to fans. Things have changed a lot with the appearance of municipal soccer teams in recent years. Conglomerates ran clubs in the past so results mattered most and service for fans was lacking. Clubs, players, coaches and coaching staff should be prepared to show good games to fans like a singer on stage.

Koreans are too focused on international games. The K-League has fewer cameras than an A match, but I`m personally convinced that the K-league has better games than international competition. Please pay more attention to the K-League.

Q: The league will start the new season in just one month, so how will you deal with fees for broadcast rights and sponsorship?

Chung: The media environment will change significantly as more channels will be introduced. As a result, demand will rise for more sports content. I don’t know whether we can get a good deal on the broadcast rights now, but the environment will improve over the mid to long term.

Q: What do you want to achieve over your term?

Chung: I want to reconfirm that soccer is Korea’s national sport. I want to make the K-League the most popular pro sports league in Korea.