South Korea’s men’s national football team is in turmoil after a disastrous World Cup campaign ended in an early exit, forcing head coach Hong Myung-bo to tender his resignation.
Despite high hopes for the squad led by star player Son Heung-min, the team finished third in Group A following a 1-0 loss to South Africa, ultimately failing to qualify for the knockout round.
The failure has triggered a swift and severe response from the highest levels of government, with President Lee Jae Myung calling for a formal investigation into the team’s performance.
President Lee did not mince words, labeling the collapse a failure of organization and personnel, and openly criticized the football association for allowing cronyism and favoritism to override competence in coaching appointments.
Hong, who faced significant public outcry when he was re-appointed in 2024, admitted that the responsibility for the team's poor showing rests entirely with him. The backlash from fans has been extreme, with the 'Red Devils' fan club demanding Hong leave the sport entirely.
As the coach prepares to return home, police have been forced to monitor security threats against him, including an online death threat.
While Hong maintains he made decisions with the best interests of Korean football in mind, the results speak for themselves: a team ranked 32nd in the world failed to advance, leaving the nation to demand accountability for the systemic failures within its football leadership.
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