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

GUADALAJARA – South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo resigned on June 28, a day after his side’s group-stage exit from the World Cup and following condemnation from the country’s President.

The 57-year-old former captain, in his second stint as South Korean boss, oversaw an early elimination from the tournament for the second time, after the failure at the 2014 edition.

The Taegeuk Warriors were expected to progress from a group which included co-hosts Mexico, as well as South Africa and the Czech Republic.

But they finished third on three points, after suffering 1-0 defeats by South Africa and Mexico, with their only success being a 2-1 win over the Czechs.

It left them hoping to squeeze into the knockout stages as one of the best eight third-placed finishers.

That hope was extinguished on June 27 by results elsewhere, with Hong taking responsibility on June 28.

“Over the past two years I asked myself the same question whenever I had to make important decisions, select players or prepare for training session and matches: Is this the right choice for Korean football?” Hong told reporters in Mexico, 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.”

Hong’s resignation came hours after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung lashed out at the team’s performance, pointing the finger at “incompetent people” and apologising to the nation.

“When loyalty and factionalism are valued over competence, and incompetent people are appointed to leadership positions, the outcome is all but inevitable,” he said in a post on X.

“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,” he added, without elaborating.

The President’s comments reflect public anger that has reached boiling point after years of simmering discontent at South Korean football chiefs.

Former captain Park Ji-sung, 45, said, “We may have expected this outcome years ago.

“We have to look back and ask ourselves why things have come to this,” the former Manchester United player said after the team’s elimination was confirmed.

“Even after spending a decade learning how to prepare for the World Cup and develop Korean football, we have forgotten those lessons once again.”

Lee Chun-soo, a member of their 2002 World Cup team, said he “felt pathetic and frustrated rooting for Uzbekistan” against the Democratic Republic of Congo, in the hope that the result would send South Korea through.

“This is a message to change,” the 44-year-old said on his YouTube channel. “Everyone should be ready to step down.”

The much-maligned Hong was deeply unpopular with fans and South Korean media even before the tournament flop.

He dropped star skipper Son Heung-min for the crucial game against South Africa in which they needed only a draw to progress, but the gamble backfired.

The 33-year-old has likely played at his last World Cup and hinted previously at retiring from international football.

Hong, who was booed during home matches following his appointment in July 2024, said after stepping down that he will always be a fan.

“Even though I am leaving the national team, I am not abandoning Korean football altogether,” he said.

“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.” AFP