SEOUL — South Korean forward Hwang Ui-jo has been booted out of domestic football for two decades after being convicted of secretly filming sex videos, The Chosun Daily reported today.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) confirmed yesterday that the 33-year-old Alanyaspor striker has been hit with a “quasi-permanent expulsion”, barring him from playing, coaching, refereeing or holding any official role in South Korea for the next 20 years.

Citing national team rules on sexual offences, the KFA said the punishment was non-negotiable, declaring: “In effect, Hwang Ui-jo has been permanently expelled from domestic football,” while rejecting claims the ban was too soft. 

The association admitted, however, that it cannot prevent him from continuing his career overseas.

Hwang remains contracted to Turkish club Alanyaspor and can still play abroad despite the domestic ban.

Hwang was sentenced last month by the Seoul Central District Court to one year in prison, suspended for two years, for illegally filming sex acts with two women in 2022. 

Both prosecution and defence appeals were thrown out, and the deadline for a further challenge passed without action, making the ruling final.

Once a star in Japan’s J.League, where he earned a place in the 2018 J1 League Best Eleven with Gamba Osaka, Hwang had expressed hopes of a national team comeback. 

But the KFA made it clear his fall from grace rules that out: “He has failed to uphold the duty to maintain dignity as a national team member.”