Korea's soccer chief Chung Mong-joon said Thursday that he will resign from his post in early 2009 after sixteen years behind the helms of the nation's soccer governing body.

In a message posted on the Korea Football Association's Internet home page, Chung said he will serve as head of the soccer body until the end of 2008, before handing his position over to "someone who loves soccer and is capable of advancing it."

Chung is expected to maintain his post as vice-president of FIFA until May 2011. He has suggested that he will run for president of the world's soccer governing body that year.

He also hoped that Korea's professional soccer league will become more advanced so that it can compete with those of Europe and Japan.