South Korean soccer chief Chung Mong-gyu on Thursday apologized for the national team’s recent poor performance and vowed to use all available resources to help the Taeguk Warriors at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Chung, who leads the Korea Football Association, said he is aware of fans’ concern ahead of the World Cup and feels responsible for the current situation.

“As the KFA president, I’m very sorry for the national team’s poor performance and any continued criticism against us,” Chung said at a press conference at the KFA House. “To improve the national team and South Korean soccer, we’ll put in our best effort using every resource available.”

The KFA is in hot water following the national team’s dismal performance with head coach Shin Tae-yong, who took over the helm in July. Although South Korea has qualified to the 2018 FIFA World Cup under Shin, the 46-year-old coach has yet to collect a win with the national team.

After posting two scoreless draws with Iran and Uzbekistan in the final Asian World Cup qualifying round last month, Shin’s side lost 4-2 to World Cup hosts Russia in Moscow on Oct. 7 and fell 3-2 to Morocco on Oct. 10 in Switzerland in a pair of friendly matches.

With these results, South Korea’s FIFA ranking in October fell 11 spots to No. 62, the lowest position this year and even below No. 57 China. This is the first time that South Korea has had a lower FIFA ranking than China since the world soccer governing body adopted the ranking system in 1993.  
Chung said he will now manage the national team matters in detail and added that the KFA is in the process of hiring experienced foreign assistants for Shin. The 55-year-old also said that the KFA will arrange friendly matches with soccer powerhouses in Europe and South America so that South Korea can find its shortcomings and make improvements. For two friendlies in November, Chung said South Korea will host Colombia and Serbia.

“From overseas training to friendly matches, I will look into the national team issues more carefully,” he said. “Through friendly matches with strong soccer teams, South Korea will try to play passionate soccer and show its fighting spirit.”

Chung, who is in his second term, said the KFA will create a new committee responsible only for hiring national team coaches. Currently, the KFA’s technical committee has the right to hire or fire national team coaches.

“The technical committee needs to function consistently for the development of South Korean soccer, but it couldn’t have long-term plan because its leader always changed following the national team’s performance,” he said. “We will create a new committee only designed to handle national team coach hiring issues, and the technical committee will focus on setting long-term plans for South Korean soccer.”

Chung said he still has trust in Shin although some fans have been demanding the KFA bring back Guus Hiddink, who previously guided South Korea to the 2002 World Cup semifinals. The Dutchman recently said he is willing to help South Korean soccer in any way, but confirmed he will not take any official position.

“It’s true that the KFA didn’t react properly in the first place regarding the Hiddink issue, but we know this isn’t the main thing what fans want,” he said. “I know fans want the KFA to change. I also look for change and innovation to develop South Korean soccer.”

The KFA also has been criticized for lacking administrative transparency. Last month, South Korean police arrested the association’s former and current employees without detention for breach of duty, as they allegedly exploited the group’s money for private use between 2011 and 2012.

Chung said even though the misdeed occurred before he became the KFA president, he feels responsible and will take active measures to prevent such wrongdoings. The 55-year-old said he will soon conduct organization reform including a personnel reshuffle.

“We’ve been trying to set up a system to prevent such corruption since I came here,” he said. “For those who are convicted, we’ll mete out a reasonable punishment.” (Yonhap)