Hong Myung-bo resigned as South Korea's head coach on Sunday, a day after his team's group-stage exit from the World Cup, following harsh criticism from President Lee Jae Myung. The 57-year-old former captain, in his second stint as coach, oversaw an early departure for the second time, matching his failure in 2014.
Group Stage Failure
South Korea were expected to advance from Group A, which included co-hosts Mexico, South Africa, and Czechia. However, they lost 1-0 to both South Africa and Mexico, finishing with three points from a single 2-1 victory over Czechia. The team's only win proved insufficient to secure a spot in the last 32.
President's Condemnation
Hours before Hong's resignation, President Lee Jae Myung lashed out at the team's performance, blaming "incompetent people" in leadership positions. In a post on X, Lee stated: "When loyalty and factionalism are valued over competence, and incompetent people are appointed to leadership positions, the outcome is all but inevitable. I offer my deepest apologies to the public for the profound disappointment caused by this unacceptable outcome. We will move swiftly to reform sports administration to ensure that nothing like this happens again."
Hong's Defense and Resignation
Hong, who was booed during home matches after his appointment in July 2024, defended his decisions in a press conference. "Over the past two years I asked myself the same question whenever I had to make important decisions, select players or prepare for training sessions and matches: 'Is this the right choice for Korean football?'" he said, according to Yonhap News Agency. "I cannot say every decision has been the right one, but I can tell you that I have made every decision with Korean football in mind."
The much-maligned coach was deeply unpopular with fans and media even before the tournament. His decision to drop veteran captain Son Heung-min for the crucial match against South Africa, where a draw would have sufficed, backfired and contributed to the team's exit.
Hong's Farewell
After stepping down, Hong expressed his continued support for the national team: "I will cheer for the national team from the bottom of my heart and hope that the team will be trusted and loved by the people once again." His resignation marks the end of a turbulent tenure that failed to meet expectations on the global stage.
