Bayern Munich strikes partnership with Korean Football Association

In a release by the club website, Bayern Munich announced that it has signed a partnership agreement with the Korean Football Association (KFA).

Bayern has been on a mission to expand its brand and scouting network globally over the past two years. The club’s commitment to the Asian market has grown as the partnership agreement with the KFA, follows Bayern’s deal with the Japan Football Association (JFA) and the opening of three soccer schools in China.

KFA executive director and South Korea’s most capped player Myung-bo Hong knows this is an important arrangement for his country:

This is a great partnership for our association and the right step towards pursuing and achieving our aims. I played against current FC Bayern youth coach Miroslav Klose in the 2002 World Cup semi-final, so I know about his qualities as a player and I’m confident our top talent, with the support of FC Bayern and the measures agreed as part of this partnership, can be brought closer to the level that is demanded by Europe’s top leagues nowadays. It’s a great opportunity, not only for our players, teams and coaches but for the whole of Korean football.

Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge commented on the emerging talent pool in South Korea:

South Korean football possesses great young talent and is characterized by very good youth development. We’ve seen that ourselves recently with Woo-Yeong Jeong, who moved to us a year ago from South Korea and has developed magnificently. We’re therefore proud to enter into this partnership and to support the KFA’s continued progress in the future.

Finally, Bayern executive board member responsible for internationalization and strategy Jörg Wacker noted that this move was yet another part of Bayern’s plan to establish a global marketing and talent development network:

The partnership with the KFA is another important step in our internationalization strategy in Asia. There’s a plethora of youth structures and talent there. Korea is one of the leading Asian countries in this area, so this partnership is an excellent fit for FC Bayern.