South Korea’s men’s national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo has resigned following the nation’s elimination from the World Cup group stage, with President Lee Jae Myung calling for an investigation into the team’s performance and the coach’s controversial appointment.
The Taegeuk Warriors finished third in Group A with three points, recording one win against Czech Republic and losses to Mexico and South Africa. Despite hopes of advancing as one of the best third-placed teams under the tournament’s expanded 48-team format, the team was officially eliminated on June 27 when other group results didn’t fall their way.
Hong, a hero of South Korea’s historic 2002 World Cup semifinal run, was reappointed as head coach in 2024 to a contract running through the 2027 Asian Cup. The decision was met with immediate backlash, as critics accused the Korea Football Association (KFA) of bypassing proper procedures to favor an insider over foreign-born candidates who underwent rigorous vetting.
The appointment’s legitimacy has been under scrutiny for two years. Police confirmed they have received at least eight complaints since 2024, and the Seoul Administrative Court has ruled the appointment unlawful, rejecting the KFA’s attempt to overturn disciplinary action against association chief Chung Mong-gyu . The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has also confirmed procedural violations.
South Korea entered the tournament ranked 32nd in the world, led by captain Son Heung-min . Despite a favorable group draw alongside Mexico (15th), South Africa (60th), and Czech Republic, the team underperformed . The final 1-0 loss to South Africa was described by Hong himself as the team’s worst performance of the group stage.
The early exit sparked widespread criticism. The national team’s official fan club, the Red Devils, called on Hong to “kneel before the entire nation and leave the football world forever”. Online death threats against the coach were reported, prompting police to monitor security at Incheon Airport ahead of the team’s return.
President Lee described the team’s exit as “not just confusion but utter bewilderment at the unexpected outcome,” stating that “when favoritism and cronyism take precedence over competence in selecting a commander, the result is as predictable as fire burning paper” . He ordered the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to investigate the circumstances, analyze the causes, and develop fundamental measures to prevent recurrence.
Announcing his resignation at a press conference in Mexico on June 28, Hong apologized to fans and accepted full responsibility for the results . “Even though I am leaving the national team, I am not abandoning Korean football altogether,” he said. “I will cheer for the national team from the bottom of my heart”.
Hong becomes the third coach to leave his position at this World Cup, following Tunisia’s Sabri Lamouchi and Scotland’s Steve Clarke.
