South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo resigns after early World Cup exit

South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo resigns after early World Cup exit

South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo resigned Sunday, following the national team's early elimination from the World Cup and a series of sharp condemnations from the country's president.

The 57-year-old former captain announced his departure with an apology to fans before the team departed its base camp in Mexico, the site of all three of the team's group matches. Hong, who was re-hired for the role in July 2024, had been in his second stint as head coach. He previously held the position from 2013-14 and led the team during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where South Korea also failed to advance past the group stage.

Group Stage Collapse

South Korea entered Group A as a favorite to advance alongside Mexico, facing South Africa and Czechia. The campaign began with a 2-1 victory over Czechia, but the momentum stalled with a 1-0 loss to Mexico. In the final group match on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, South Korea suffered a 1-0 defeat to South Africa. A draw in that match would have been sufficient to progress.

The loss left South Korea with three points, forcing them to rely on the expanded tournament's rules to qualify as one of the top eight third-place teams. That hope ended on Saturday, June 27, 2026, when Congo defeated Uzbekistan 3-1.

The failure was compounded by tactical decisions that drew ire from the media and fans. According to The Guardian, Hong dropped veteran captain Son Heung-min for the decisive game against South Africa, a gamble that failed. Hong had already been unpopular with supporters, facing boos during home matches after his 2024 appointment.

Presidential Condemnation

President Lee Jae Myung responded to the exit with fierce criticism of both the team's performance and the administrative process that installed Hong. Writing on X, Lee stated he was utterly baffled and described the coach as incompetent and incapable.

"If loyalty and factionalism are valued over competence and an incapable person is appointed as a leader, the outcome is as predictable as fire,"

Lee Jae Myung, President of South Korea, via X

President Lee, who identified himself as a member of the Red Devils and a former honorary professional football club chairman, suggested the hiring process was flawed and prioritized personal gain over the public good. He characterized the elimination as a profound disappointment resulting from organizational and personnel failures.

Administrative Fallout

The president has called for a comprehensive review of the national team program. Because the World Cup requires significant investment of national resources and taxpayers' money, Lee asked the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to investigate the circumstances of the exit, analyze the causes, and develop measures to prevent a recurrence.

Lee promised that the government would move swiftly to reform sports administration to ensure such a situation does not happen again. This comes at a time of turmoil for a program that has made 11 consecutive World Cup appearances and once reached the semifinals as co-host in 2002. South Korea had previously reached the round of 16 in 2022, but the national team has never reached the knockout round in back-to-back tournaments.

Coach's Final Statement

Hong defended his intentions during his final address to reporters in Mexico. He stated that whenever he made important decisions regarding player selection or training, he asked himself if it was the right choice for Korean football.

Acknowledging the failure, Hong said: As the head coach, no explanation can supersede the ultimate result. I could not bring the result that our people had expected. All responsibilities are with me.

Hong concluded by stating that while he is stepping down, his heart for Korean football remains the same and he will support the national team in regaining the trust of the public.