Former national team striker Kim Dong-hyun became the sixth player to be arrested on Wednesday and is the most high-profile of the group that is alleged to have accepted sums of around 100,000 US dollars (over £60,000) from brokers operating on behalf of illegal betting sites based in South Korea and China to affect the outcome of games.

Until now matches in the K-League Cup had been under scrutiny, especially a 3-0 win for Pohang Steelers at Daejeon Citizen on April 6. Three Daejeon players are among those detained while Pohang midfielder Kim Jung-gyum has been sacked by the club for allegedly betting on the outcome.

On May 30, former Jeonbuk Motors player Jeong Jong-kwan was found dead in an apparent suicide, leaving a note that reportedly detailed his involvement. Police are set to expand their investigations to league games.

Authorities have moved quickly to try and restore public trust in Asia's oldest professional league, setting-up an anti-corruption committee to look into the situation while Korea Football Association (KFA) chief Cho Chung-yun told reporters in Seoul today that FIFA would provide assistance.

"The recent turn of events surrounding match-fixing has betrayed the fans' trust and disgraced the name of our sport," said Cho, who attended the FIFA Congress in Zurich earlier in the week and met with officials from football's governing body.

"We need measures that will protect clubs and players from illegal activities. If necessary, FIFA will dispatch a team of inspectors to investigate situations.

"We will also rely on international cases to seek solutions to problems."

K-League players and officials gathered in Seoul for a hastily-convened workshop and pledged to clear the game of corruption.

"I understand how serious this matter is. We are going to take serious action," K-League CEO Chong Mong-gyu told a press conference.

"If we cannot root out match-fixing this time, it will happen again soon. I think this is our opportunity to reform the K-league."