Hong Myung-bo Resigns as South Korea Head Coach
Hong Myung-bo has stepped down as head coach of South Korea's men's national football team following their failure to progress to the knockout stage of the World Cup. This marks Hong's second tenure leading the national team.
South Korea had hoped to advance as one of the best third-placed teams in the group stage, but their chances were eliminated on Saturday after other teams' results did not go in their favor.
Domestic Reaction and Presidential Call for Investigation
The team's early exit has sparked widespread criticism within South Korea. President Lee Jae Myung publicly called for an investigation into the factors contributing to the disappointing World Cup performance.
On Sunday, Hong issued an apology to fans, taking full responsibility for the outcome.
"The responsibility rests entirely with me as head coach," Hong stated.
World Cup Performance and Team Ranking
Ranked 32nd in FIFA's men's rankings and led by star forward Son Heung-min, South Korea finished the group stage with one win and two losses. They placed third in Group A behind Mexico and South Africa, ranked 15th and 60th respectively.
Criticism intensified following their 1-0 loss to South Africa on Thursday, which left South Korea in third place in their group. Despite this, the team retained a slim chance to advance due to a new tournament rule allowing the eight best third-placed teams to qualify for the knockout round. However, subsequent results on Saturday confirmed their elimination.
Fan Backlash and Official Statements
Fans have largely blamed Hong for the team's underperformance. On Monday, the national team's official fan club, Red Devils, released a statement demanding Hong to "kneel before the entire nation and leave the football world forever."
At a news conference in Mexico on Sunday, Hong acknowledged the team's failure to meet expectations.
"We didn't deliver the results that our fans expected," he said.
Hong also expressed his continued commitment to Korean football despite resigning.
"Even though I am leaving the national team, I am not abandoning Korean football altogether. 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."
President Lee's Comments on Team Management
President Lee expressed his shock at the team's unexpected early exit.
"I felt not just confusion but utter bewilderment at the unexpected outcome," Lee said.
In a post on X, he attributed the failure to organizational and personnel issues.
"When favouritism and cronyism take precedence over competence in selecting a commander, the result is as predictable as fire burning paper," Lee wrote.
Controversy Surrounding Hong's Appointment
Hong's appointment as head coach was controversial from the outset. As a former defender and captain of South Korea's 2002 World Cup team that reached the semi-finals, Hong is regarded as a national football hero. However, his previous coaching stint in 2014 ended with the team failing to advance beyond the group stage and not winning any matches.
His reappointment in 2024 was met with criticism from many fans who viewed it as a decision influenced by the football association's old guard favoring a familiar figure over foreign-born candidates who had undergone rigorous vetting.
Hong acknowledged the difficulty of accepting the coaching role.
"Accepting the job was not an easy choice," he said.
"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."
Security Concerns Following Death Threat
South Korean police reported monitoring security at Incheon Airport and other locations after an online death threat was made against Hong upon his return to Korea over the weekend, according to local media.
