Last week, South Korea played its final Group A match at the World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, losing 1-0 to South Africa.
The defeat ended South Korea’s hopes of progressing to the knockout stage as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams.
On 28 June 2026, Hong Myung-bo announced his resignation during a press conference, saying he had failed to meet the expectations placed on him.
“I am stepping down as head coach because we did not deliver the results our fans expected. Although I am leaving the national team, I will never turn my back on Korean football,” Hong said.
He added that he would continue supporting the national team wholeheartedly and hoped fans would once again embrace the team in the future.
His resignation came shortly after President Lee posted a strongly worded statement on social media, suggesting that serious irregularities may have affected the team’s preparations for the World Cup.
“This is not confusion—it is incompetence that has produced predictable results. It reflects the weaknesses of those responsible for the team’s preparation,” Lee wrote.
The president also warned against favoritism and nepotism in appointments, stating that when positions are awarded based on personal connections rather than merit, failure is inevitable.
South Korean media reported that officials involved in the national team’s World Cup preparations are now under investigation at the president’s request.
South Korea began its Group A campaign with a victory over the Czech Republic, but then suffered back-to-back 1-0 defeats against Mexico and South Africa, resulting in an early exit from the tournament.
