South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo resigns after World Cup exit as president orders investigation
Hong stepped down Sunday taking full responsibility after South Korea lost 1-0 to South Africa and then to Mexico in the group stage; President Lee Jae-myung called the coach 'incapable' and ordered the sports ministry to investigate both the performance and Hong's original appointment
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Summary
South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo resigned Sunday after the national team's group-stage exit from the 2026 World Cup. South Korea won its opener against the Czech Republic but lost 1-0 to South Africa and then fell to Mexico in the decisive match. Hong said he took full responsibility. President Lee Jae-myung condemned the campaign, calling Hong "incapable" and ordering the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to investigate both the team's performance and the process by which Hong was originally appointed.
Why it matters
The presidential intervention transforms a disappointing tournament exit into a political accountability question. President Lee's direct attack on Hong's hire, framing it as a product of "loyalty and factionalism over competence," signals that South Korea's football governance structure will face formal state scrutiny, a rare step that reflects how deeply the World Cup matters to South Korean national politics.