Ex-K League commissioner elected to head S. Korea's football governing body

Chung Mong-gyu, a former commissioner of South Korea's top professional football K League, was elected to head the country's football governing body, Korea Football Association (KFA), on Jan. 28.

Chung, who currently serves as chairman of the construction company Hyundai Development, replaces Cho Chung-yun who declared last October that he will not seek a second term.

In a run-off held at Grand Hilton Hotel in Seoul, the 51-year-old defeated Heo Seung-pyo, 67, a former vice chairman of the KFA, in a vote of 15-9 to become the new KFA chairman for a four-year term.

None of the four contenders won a majority in the first round of voting. Heo placed first with eight votes, followed by Chung with seven. Kim Seok-han, former head of the Korea Middle School Football Association, came in third with six votes, while Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun of the ruling Saenuri Party earned three.

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com