By Yoo Jee-ho

SEOUL, July 30 (Yonhap) -- An opposition lawmaker and the former national football chief came under fire Thursday for a text exchange suggesting possible lobbying for favorable treatment during the day's parliamentary hearing on the sport.

The National Assembly's committee on sports held a hearing on the state of the Korea Football Association (KFA) on Thursday, in light of South Korea's early elimination from the FIFA World Cup last month. Chaired by Democratic Party (DP) Rep. Lee Jae-jung, the committee sought to grill former KFA President Chung Mong-gyu, among others, on what many critics have described as opaque operations at the KFA.

Before the start of the afternoon session, People Power Party (PPP) Rep. Yun Yong-keun sent a text message to Chung saying: "Mr. President, I got a call from Mr. Chung yesterday. I should have been more considerate. I apologize."

Chung Mong-gyu replied: "Thank you for your consideration. I will see you in a different setting, not an occasion such as this. From Chung Mong-gyu."

The text exchange that appeared on Yun's phone was photographed by a local daily and was circulated to other outlets.

After learning of the exchange, Lee asked Chung if he had tried to contact committee members to lobby before the hearing and, failing that, if he had turned to other sources to accomplish that goal.

When asked who Mr. Chung in the text was, Chung Mong-gyu said: "I cannot disclose that because it is a private matter. I do think the text was inappropriate because it could cause misunderstanding during the hearing. I would like to apologize to the people, and I have never asked for any special favor regarding this session."

Yun contended that the text exchange had no bearing on the proceedings.

"I don't believe this affected my questions," Yun said. "I asked all the questions that I had prepared, and I don't understand why this text should be a problem."

DP Rep. Noh Jong-myun asked Chung Mong-gyu if Yun was referring to former presidential chief of staff Chung Jin-suk in the text.

The two Chungs are not related.

"I will not speak about that because it is private," Chung Mong-gyu reiterated.

jeeho@yna.co.kr

(END)

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