Chung Mong-gyu

Chung Mong-gyu (; born 1961) is a South Korean businessman. He is one of his country's top business leaders and chairman of HDC Group. Since 2013, he has served two consecutive terms as the 53rd president of the Korea Football Association (KFA). In May 2017, he won a seat on the FIFA Council. Chung received his bachelor's in business administration from Korea University in 1985, and completed his master's in politics, philosophy and economics at the University of Oxford in 1988. He was born in Seoul and is the son of Hyundai Motor Company co-founder Chung Se-yung.

Education

Graduated from Yongsan High School in 1980. He then pursued his Bachelor's degree in business administration at Korea University in 1985. He received his Master's degree in politics, philosophy and economics from Oxford University in 1988.

Chronology Chung Mong-gyu joined Hyundai Motor Company in November 1988. He went on to serve as Chairman of Ulsan Hyundai FC from 1994 to 1996, and as Chairman of Hyundai Motor Company from 1996 to 1999. During 1997 to 1999, he also served as Chairman of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC, President of the Korean Automobile Manufacturers Association, and Chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) Korea-Britain Business Leaders Forum. In February 1999, he became Chairman of HDC Hyundai Development Company, a post he held until May 2018, and in 2000 assumed the chairmanship of Busan I'Park FC.

Since March 2000, he has served as a keynote speaker at the Pacific Basin Economic Council International General Meeting. In January 2011, Chung became President of the K League (Korea Professional Football League), serving until January 2013. He was a Member of the AFC Ad-Hoc Committee from April 2011 to March 2013.

From February 2013 to March 2014, he served as President of the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF), and from January 2013 to June 2016 as President of the Korea Football Association (KFA). He was a Member of the Organizing Committee for the FIFA Club World Cup from August 2013 to December 2016, and Vice President of EAFF from March 2014 onwards.

From May 2015 to May 2017, Chung served as a Member of the AFC Executive Committee. He has been a Member of the AFC Development Committee and Deputy Chairman of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup Organizing Committee since August 2015. In March 2016, he became Chairman of the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup Organizing Committee.

He served as Chef de Mission of 2016 Summer Olympics Team Korea from March to August 2016. In July 2016, he was reappointed as President of the KFA, and in September 2016 he became Vice President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Chair of the AFC Referees' Committee.

In January 2017, Chung was appointed Vice President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee. In May 2017, he became a Member of the FIFA Council. He was elected President of the East Asia Football Federation in April 2018, and became Chairman of HDC Holdings Co., Ltd. in May 2018.

Following South Korea's exit from the 2026 World Cup, Chung resigned as president of the Korea Football Association in July 2026, while retaining his international football positions as vice-chairman of FIFA's Commercial and Marketing Advisory Committee, with a term through 2029, and as the East Zone member of the Asian Football Confederation Executive Committee, whose terms runs through 2027.

Career

Chung Mong-gyu served as chairman and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company from January 1996 to March 1999. He has managed Hyundai Development Company since his appointment as chairmanship in March 1999.

Hyundai Development Company, a parent entity of Hyundai Development Company Group, is a comprehensive construction company established in 1976 and has created more than 400,000 apartment units in Korea including Samsung-dong IPARK, Suwon IPARK CITY and Haeundae IPARK. In addition, Hyundai Development Company has been active in various areas such as city development, residential/commercial buildings, civil engineering and social infrastructure.

Hyundai Development Company has diversified its business areas to include manufacture, distribution, IT, leisure and service, with real estate & infrastructure construction as the center. The affiliates of Hyundai Development Company include Hyundai EP, I·Controls, I·Service, Hyundai IPARK Mall, Young Chang Music, I&CONS, Hotel IPARK, Hyundai PCE, IPARK Sports, HDC Asset Management and HDC Shilla Duty Free.

Through his engagement in IPARK Volunteer Corps, which was launched in 2004 as a social contribution committee of Hyundai Development Company, Chairman Chung has been actively promoting corporate social responsibility. In particular, with the establishment of Pony Chung Foundation, which is a nonprofit scholarship organization, he has been carrying out various programs such as Pony Chung Innovation Award, Academic Grants and Domestic/Overseas Scholarships.

Through his ownerships of Ulsan Hyundai FC (1994–1996), Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (1997–1999) and Busan IPARK FC (2000–present), Chairman Chung has continuously supported the development of Korean Football industry.

Elected as the 9th President of the K League (Korean Professional Football League ) in 2011, he handled the match-fixing scandals with determination and acumen. In 2013, he was elected as the 52nd President of the Korea Football Association (KFA), a title being served for 2 consecutive terms since his reappointment as the 53rd President in 2016. In addition, he served as Vice President of East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) (2013–2014), Member of the Organizing Committee for the FIFA Club World Cup (2013–2016), Chef de Mission of 2016 Summer Olympics South Korea Team (2016) and Member of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Executive Committee (2015-2017).

His current roles include Deputy Chairman of 2019 AFC Asian Cup Organizing Committee (2015–present), Member of AFC Development Committee (2015–present), Chairman of 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup Organizing Committee (2016–present), Chairperson of AFC Referees' Committee (2016–present), Vice President of AFC (2016–present), Vice President of Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (2017–present) and Member of FIFA Council (2017–present). Since his joining the FIFA Council, Chairman Chung has been devoting his efforts to co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup with China, Japan and North Korea.

Awards 1997 Winner of the 2nd Korea-China Young Researcher's Award (economics segment) 1997 "100 Global Leaders of Tomorrow" by the World Economic Forum

Family