Korea Football Association (KFA) confirmed on Thursday that Gangwon FC CEO Lee Young-pyo (44) and Kim Ki-hong (63), former vice chairman of Pyeongchang Olympics Organising Committee, had been appointed as the vice presidents of KFA.

A living legend of Korean football, Lee has taken part in three consecutive editions of the FIFA World Cup, helping Korea Republic reach the semi-finals of Korea/Japan 2002 before featuring prominently in Germany 2006 and South Africa 2010 as well. He attended Anyang Technical High School and Konkuk University, and continued his career at Anyang Cheetahs (forerunner of FC Seoul), PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands), Tottenham Hotspur (England), Borussia Dortmund (Germany) and Vancouver Whitecaps (Canada).

Lee is expected to translate his rich experience in advanced football systems and culture into KFA’s strategies of expanding the grassroots and developing youth football. As the CEO of a professional football club, he is also expected to advise for KFA’s policy of supporting the K League.

Meanwhile, Kim was appointed as the vice president following the recent departure of Cho Hyun-jae for Korea Sports Promotion Foundation. Kim began his public career after passing the civil service examination, and has held various posts at Sports Bureau, Tourism Bureau and Media Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. He also specialised in sports administration, taking part in the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics Organising Committee as vice chairman. As a newly appointed vice president of KFA, Kim will lead the projects concerning the government and local authorities as well as the establishment of the National Football Centre in Cheonan.

With the addition of the aforementioned duo, KFA has finished assembling the 54th Board of Executives with seven vice presidents including Lee Yong-soo (Professor at Sejong University), Choi Young-il (former Korea Republic international), Kim Byung-ji (President of KIMBJ Sports Culture Centre), Kim Dae-eun (President of Jeonbuk Football Association) and Hong Eun-ah (former international referee, Professor at Ewha Women’s University).