Hong Myung-bo stepped down as head coach of the South Korean national football team this past Sunday, immediately following the squad’s exit from the 2026 World Cup. His resignation came amid intense public backlash and reports of threats directed toward him and his staff, forcing the team to conceal their travel plans upon returning home.
The team’s performance, particularly a disappointing loss to South Africa after benching captain Son Heung-min, drew sharp criticism from figures like former defender Lee Young-pyo. This early departure is viewed by many as the climax of systemic issues within the Korea Football Association (KFA). President Lee Jae-myung publicly condemned the team’s leadership, citing cronyism and a lack of transparency in hiring processes under KFA president Chung Mong-gyu.
Chung, who faced government-backed investigations into his leadership, had previously announced his intention to resign following the tournament. This leadership crisis coincides with a period where South Korea’s football standing has arguably slipped behind Japan, which has cultivated a more stable, long-term development strategy. With the national team now lacking a head coach and the KFA facing a power vacuum, stakeholders are calling for a complete structural overhaul to address the nation’s declining competitiveness on the global stage.
