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South Korea's coach, Hong Myung-bo, has resigned following the national team's group-stage elimination at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a result that has triggered widespread anger at home and renewed calls for the Korea Football Association (KFA) to make changes.
South Korea, which made the semifinals as co-hosts in 2002, was knocked out of Group A after missing out on a spot among the top eight third-place teams. The team beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in their first match but then lost 1-0 to Mexico and 1-0 to South Africa. It only needed a draw against South Africa to advance, so the loss led to immediate criticism.
Hong announced his resignation at a press conference held at the team's camp in Mexico. "I sincerely apologize to all Koreans who love and support our national team," he said. "I am announcing today that I am stepping down from my position as head coach. No statement I make can change the result. I could not deliver what our people expected. All responsibility is mine."
Hong, 57, was in his second spell as South Korea's head coach. He had also led the team at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where they were eliminated in the group stage. He was reappointed in July 2024, five months after the previous coach, German World Cup winner Jurgen Klinsmann, was dismissed. There were questions about how the selection process was handled, and Hong often faced boos from fans during his time in charge.
Hong's choice to leave out captain Son Heung-min for the crucial match against South Africa was especially criticized. Son, who turns 34 next month, had already suggested he might retire from international football, but he has not yet made any public statement about his future.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who is also a member of the national team's supporter group the Red Devils, strongly criticized the team after their elimination. "I feel not just shock but deep disappointment at this unexpected result," he said.
Lee also criticized how the football federation made its personnel decisions. "It has once again been proven that personnel decisions determine everything," he said. "When loyalty and factionalism are prioritized over competence, and incompetent people are placed in leadership positions, the result is as predictable as fire."
The president told the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to look into why the team failed. "I sincerely apologize to the public for the great disappointment caused by this incomprehensible situation," he said. "We will quickly implement the necessary reforms in sports administration to ensure this does not happen again."
KFA president Chung Mong-gyu, now in his fourth term, is also being urged to resign. Before the tournament, Chung said he would step down after it ended, mentioning his "lack of virtue" after years of criticism during his 13-year leadership. He was also criticized for trying to pardon former players who had been banned for life for match-fixing.
South Korea's exit led to responses from well-known figures in the country's football history. Former captain Park Ji-sung, who played for Manchester United, said: "We may have expected this outcome years ago. We have to look back and ask ourselves why things have come to this. Even after spending a decade learning how to prepare for the World Cup and develop Korean football, we have forgotten those lessons once again."
Park added, "It's unfortunate that this kind of cycle keeps repeating." He continued, "We must dream of and shape a better future, and move forward step by step so that we don't repeat these mistakes."
Lee Chun-soo, who played in the 2002 World Cup, said he watched the last group-stage results with anxiety. "I felt pathetic and frustrated rooting for Uzbekistan against the Democratic Republic of Congo, hoping South Korea would advance. This is a message to change," Lee said. "Everyone should be ready to step down."
South Korea has been one of Asia's most consistent World Cup teams, qualifying for 11 tournaments in a row. Its best result was reaching the semifinals at home in 2002.
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