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South Korea national football coach Hong Myung-bo resigned on Sunday after the team failed to advance from the group stage at the 2026 World Cup, a result that prompted President Lee Jae-myung to order a government investigation into the disappointing campaign and the process that led to the coach’s appointment. The side, ranked 32nd in the FIFA men’s standings and featuring captain Son Heung-min, recorded one win and two losses in Group A to finish behind Mexico and South Africa, with hopes of progressing as one of the best third-placed teams extinguished on Saturday. Yahoo Sports reported that the early exit has triggered widespread domestic criticism, including online death threats against Hong that have placed police on alert at Incheon Airport and other sites.
Hong announced his resignation at a press conference in western Mexico, according to the BBC, where he apologised to supporters and stated that the responsibility rests entirely with him as head coach. “We didn’t deliver the results that our fans expected,” he said, adding that although he was leaving the national team he would continue to support Korean football. The BBC noted that the 1-0 loss to South Africa on Thursday had intensified scrutiny, ending any chance of advancing under the expanded tournament format that allows the top eight third-placed teams to reach the knockout rounds.
President Lee Jae-myung described himself as feeling “not just confusion but utter bewilderment at the unexpected outcome” in comments reported across multiple outlets including TNT Sports. In a post on X, the president characterised the exit as “a failure of organisation and personnel” and stated that “when favoritism and cronyism take precedence over competence in selecting a commander, the result is as predictable as fire burning paper.” Lee directed the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to conduct a thorough probe into the causes and to recommend preventive measures, according to RTE.ie.
The Korea Herald reported that Hong’s 2024 reappointment by the Korea Football Association had been controversial from the outset, with critics accusing the body of bypassing rigorous vetting procedures in favour of a familiar domestic figure. Former players including Park Ji-sung, Lee Young-pyo and Lee Dong-gook publicly questioned the decision, while a petition calling for Hong’s dismissal gathered sufficient signatures to trigger a National Assembly review. Park Joo-ho, who had served on the selection committee, claimed the process disregarded proper protocols, the Herald added.
FIFA records show that South Korea has now appeared at 12 World Cups, the most consecutive qualifications of any Asian side, yet the team has advanced beyond the group stage on only four occasions with a fourth-place finish in 2002 remaining the pinnacle. Hong captained that 2002 squad to its historic semi-final run on home soil before returning as coach in 2014, when the team again exited at the group stage without a win. ESPN data from recent qualifiers placed the side’s attacking output under Hong as reliant on set pieces and counter-attacks, an approach that drew tactical criticism during the 2026 campaign.
Additional reporting from Anadolu Agency and NBC outlets indicated that the Korea Football Association president has also signalled his intention to step down, citing a lack of virtue in the organisation’s recent stewardship. Fans have expressed anger through social media and public demonstrations, with some reports describing players and coaching staff planning a late-night return to avoid confrontations at the airport. The combined developments have placed Korean football at a crossroads, with the forthcoming ministerial investigation expected to examine both technical preparation and governance structures within the national setup.
