South Korean supporters have launched a petition demanding the immediate dismissal of national team manager Hong Myung-bo after a 1-0 defeat to South Africa left the side facing an early World Cup exit. The petition, which has already secured the 100 endorsements required for an initial review by the National Assembly, accuses the Korea Football Association (KFA) of an illegitimate appointment process and calls for sweeping administrative reforms.
Team on brink of elimination
South Korea started the tournament with a promising victory over the Czech Republic but suffered subsequent losses to host nation Mexico and South Africa. With just three points, they currently sit sixth in the third-place standings, relying on other results to progress to the knockout phase. The defeat to South Africa was described in the petition as "one of the worst displays by a Korean team in World Cup history."
The petition states: "The Korea Football Association's official selection process was effectively ignored, making it difficult to avoid criticism that the appointment was fundamentally illegitimate. Despite fielding what many considered the strongest squad in Korea's World Cup history, the team finished with one win and two losses, placing third in the group."
Petition demands institutional reform
Beyond seeking Hong Myung-bo's removal, the petition urges the National Assembly's budgetary authority to assume greater administrative oversight of the KFA. It calls for a strict prohibition on bypassing official bodies such as the National Team Strengthening Committee in future coach appointments. "The only way to prevent the privatization of the football association is through the power of an institutional system," the petition adds.
If the National Assembly decides to make the petition public, and more than 50,000 signatures are gathered within 30 days, the matter will be referred to a national standing committee for further scrutiny.
Manager admits psychological burden
Following the defeat to South Africa, Hong Myung-bo acknowledged that his players struggled under pressure. He said: "The players seemed to carry a significant psychological burden to secure a win. The poor performance was likely due to a combination of psychological factors and environmental challenges like the extreme heat."
The South Korea manager now faces an uncertain future as fans and lawmakers alike demand accountability for what many see as a disappointing campaign.
