Hong Myung-bo has resigned as head coach of South Korea's men's national football team after they failed to advance to the World Cup knockout stage, prompting President Lee Jae-myung to call for an investigation into the early exit.
The team had hoped to qualify as one of the best third-placed teams after finishing third in Group A, behind Mexico and South Africa, who are ranked 15th and 60th respectively. But that hope was quashed on Saturday, ending South Korea's campaign with two losses and one win.
“Hong Myung-bo resigns as South Korea coach after World Cup group-stage exit; president Lee Jae-myung demands investigation.”
Ranked 32nd in FIFA's men's rankings and led by star player Son Heung-min, South Korea recorded a 1-0 defeat to South Africa in their final group match on Thursday, which left them third but still with a chance under the tournament's expansion from 32 to 48 teams, allowing the eight best third-placed teams to progress.
Speaking at a news conference in western Mexico, Hong apologised to fans and said the responsibility "rests entirely with me as head coach".
"We didn't deliver the results that our fans expected," Hong said. "Even though I am leaving the national team, I am not abandoning Korean football altogether. I will cheer for the national team from the bottom of my heart and hope that the team will be trusted and loved by the people once again."
The resignation came after President Lee posted on X, expressing "not just confusion but utter bewilderment at the unexpected outcome".
Lee said the early exit "appears to be a failure of organisation and personnel", adding: "When favouritism and cronyism take precedence over competence in selecting a commander, the result is as predictable as fire burning paper."
Hong's appointment had been controversial from the start. The former defender captained South Korea to a historic semi-final finish in the 2002 World Cup, but when he led the team as a coach in 2014, they failed to advance beyond the group stage – or win a single match. When he was appointed to the same job again in 2024, it was met with harsh uproar, with many fans criticising the appointment as the football association's old guards giving the top job to their friend, as the KFA passed on several foreign-born candidates who had undergone a rigorous vetting process.
On Sunday, Hong said that "accepting the job was not an easy choice". "I cannot say every decision has been the right one, but I can tell you that I h…"