South Korea Investigates Alleged Match-Fixing Attempt in Promotion Decider

^{Chungbuk Cheongju players after the match against Busan IPark in 2023}

The Korea Football Association (KFA) is investigating an alleged attempt to influence the outcome of a decisive second-division football match from the 2023 season. A senior refereeing official is alleged to have asked a match referee to make decisions in favor of one of the clubs to help it secure direct promotion to the top flight. The case was reported by broadcaster SBS.

The match in question was between Busan IPark and Chungbuk Cheongju in the final round of the 2023 K League 2 season — South Korea’s second-tier league. Busan needed a win to finish first and earn direct promotion to K League 1; any other result would send the club into the promotion playoffs instead.

Nearly three years later, football commentator Park Moon-sung released a recording of a conversation allegedly held before the game.

In the recording, a senior Referee Committee official with authority over referee assignments is heard asking the match referee to make decisions in Busan’s favor.

Specifically, he suggests showing yellow cards to the opposing team’s two center-backs early in the match, saying this would make it “easier” to control the game. Both defenders did in fact receive bookings in the first half.

The recording also includes an alleged promise of a 2-million-won bonus if the referee handled the match as requested. According to SBS, the amount corresponded to the fee paid to a referee for officiating a promotion-relegation playoff, raising suspicions that a future match assignment was being offered as an incentive.

Despite the alleged attempt to favor Busan, the club failed to win. Chungbuk Cheongju scored a late equalizer to make it 1-1, leaving Busan second in the table and sending the club into the promotion playoffs. Busan ultimately failed to win promotion and remained in K League 2.

Following the recording’s release, the Korea Football Association opened an investigation. The Professional Football Referees Association also issued a statement promising reforms and did not deny the allegations. The person linked to the recording told SBS that the events took place three years ago and that he did not remember them.

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