Hong Myung-bo has stepped down as manager of the South Korean men’s national football team after their failure to reach the knockout stages of the World Cup. The squad had held faint hopes of progressing as one of the top third-placed teams, but those chances vanished on Saturday.
This exit triggered significant backlash, leading President Lee Jae-myung to demand a formal inquiry into the team’s underwhelming performance. During a Sunday address, Hong took full responsibility for the results, expressing remorse to the supporters.
Despite being ranked 32nd globally and featuring star player Son Heung-min, South Korea finished behind Mexico and South Africa in Group A with only one victory. The team faced mounting pressure following a 1-0 defeat to South Africa. Although new tournament rules provided a path for the best third-placed teams to advance, South Korea fell short of the requirements.
President Lee expressed his profound disappointment on social media, suggesting the early departure resulted from poor personnel management and systemic issues, specifically citing concerns about favoritism in selection processes. Hong, who previously coached the team in 2014, faced immediate public scrutiny upon his re-appointment in 2024 due to allegations that the Korea Football Association favored personal connections over more qualified international candidates.
As he prepares to return to South Korea, local authorities are monitoring security at Incheon Airport following an online death threat directed at the outgoing coach. Hong maintained that he accepted the position with the best intentions for the future of the sport in his country.
