This shocking information was first revealed by the South Korean broadcaster JTBC on Thursday. It came to light following access to a comprehensive 2016 audit report compiled by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) regarding KFA misconduct.

According to the report, these incidents occurred between March 2011 and March 2012. The findings had not been made public until now.

The ministry concluded that the KFA engaged in "inappropriate hospitality" on at least seven occasions. This involved foreign referees and referee supervisors officiating matches of the South Korea national team.

The matches in question included three in World Cup and Olympic qualifiers, alongside four international friendlies.

The recipients of this explicit hospitality included over ten international referees and supervisors. Payments were made using official KFA credit cards at various massage parlors and adult establishments across South Korea.

Costs for these services ranged from several hundred thousand to over a million won (US$700) per visit.

One of the specific cases cited in the report occurred on Feb. 29, 2012, when South Korea hosted Kuwait at the Seoul World Cup Stadium for a 2014 World Cup qualifier.

According to government records, a KFA credit card was used in the early hours of that day to pay 500,000 won (US$352.63) at a massage parlor in Seoul's upscale Gangnam District.

After cross-checking testimony from referee committee staff, credit card statements and documents provided by the KFA, the MCST concluded that this expenditure was used to provide sexual entertainment for two match officials. The referee in charge of that match was Yuichi Nishimura from Japan.

Referee Yuichi Nishimura (R) shows a yellow card to Fahed Al Ebrahim during South Korea's 2-0 victory over Kuwait in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Feb. 29, 2012. Photo by AFP

A staff member from the KFA’s referee committee told the government inspection team that the fees paid at the massage parlor included the cost of sexual services.

The individual also stated that the foreign referees have made these specific requests while at the airport or their hotel, prompting the KFA to arrange the hospitality. They claimed it was a common practice at the time.

Another documented incident occurred on Sept. 22, 2011, following South Korea's victory over Oman in the final round of the 2012 London Olympics qualifiers in Changwon.

Just two and a half hours after the match ended, a KFA employee paid 760,000 won at a local massage parlor. The investigation concluded that this sum was used to entertain the four match officials. The lead referee for that match was Ravshan Irmatov of Uzbekistan.

Referee Ravshan Irmatov (R) shows a yellow card to midfielder Andranik Teymourian during South Korea's victory over Iran in the 2011 Asian Cup quarterfinals in Doha, Qatar. Photo by AFP

The report also documented another incident that took place while a match was actually in progress. On the afternoon of March 14, 2012, during the 2012 London Olympics qualifier between South Korea and Qatar, a KFA credit card was used to pay 198,000 won at a Chinese-style massage parlor in Gangnam.

According to the inspection findings, this payment was intended for a referee supervisor, whose duty was to monitor refs and ensure they did not accept improper benefits while performing their duties. The match was officiated by referee Valentin Kovalenko of Uzbekistan.

The MCST reached these conclusions after compiling testimonies from various KFA officials. They also cross-referenced credit card transaction records with documents provided by the association itself, JTBC reported.

Later on, Yonhap cited sources within the South Korean football circle as saying that a member of the National Assembly had confirmed the KFA provided sexual services to more than ten international referees between 2011 and 2012.

These incidents all took place during the tenure of former KFA president Cho Chung-yun.

Former president of the Korean Football Association, Cho Chung-yun (L), receives the AFC Men's Team of the Year award at a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Nov. 29, 2012. Photo by AFP

Responding to the newly released information, the KFA noted that the events occurred approximately 15 years ago. The federation explained that its internal document retention period is only five years.

The association also claimed there are insufficient records of what happened during that time, stating that it could not definitively confirm every aspect of the incident. However, they emphasized that internal management mechanisms have changed significantly since then.

The use of corporate credit cards and entertainment expenses is now subject to much stricter controls to meet governance standards and the public eye, it said.