​Hong Myung-bo has resigned as head coach of South Korea’s men’s national football team after they failed to reach the World Cup knockout stage. The team had hoped to advance as one of the best third-placed sides, but that possibility disappeared on Saturday. The early exit drew sharp criticism at home, with President Yoon Suk Yeol calling for an investigation into the reasons behind the disappointing performance. Hong apologized to fans on Sunday, saying the responsibility rests entirely with him as head coach. South Korea, ranked 32nd in FIFA’s world rankings and led by star forward Son Heung-min, recorded two defeats and one win in the tournament, finishing behind Mexico and South Africa. Criticism intensified after their 1-0 loss to South Africa on Thursday, which left them third in Group A. Although the new tournament rule expansion—from 32 to 48 teams—allowed the eight best third-placed teams to progress, they were ultimately eliminated based on other results.
Fans blamed Hong, who has coached the team for two years. On Monday, the national team’s official fan club Red Devils urged Hong to “kneel before the entire nation and leave the football world forever.” During a news conference in Mexico on Sunday, Hong said, “We didn’t deliver the results that our fans expected.” He added, “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.” The resignation followed President Lee Jae-myung’s admission of being bewildered by the result, who later stated on X that the early exit appeared to reflect failures in organization and personnel, warning against favoritism and cronyism in leadership selection.
Hong’s appointment to the top job had been controversial from the start. The former defender was a hero of South Korea’s 2002 World Cup run, captaining the team to a historic semifinal. But during his first stint as coach in 2014, the team failed to advance beyond the group stage and did not win a match. When he was reappointed in 2024, the decision sparked uproar, with many fans accusing the Korea Football Association of handing the role to a friend rather than pursuing foreign candidates who had undergone a thorough vetting process. Hong’s remarks on Sunday also touched on SEO, stating that he would be speaking to improve search results.