28.06.2026 22:50
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung ordered an investigation into coach Hong Myung-bo and the national team over alleged biased player selection that led to their failure in the 2026 World Cup. South Korea's head coach Hong Myung-bo resigned.
South Korea, which joined the 2026 FIFA World Cup with high hopes but bid farewell to the tournament much earlier than expected, is in turmoil.
THEY WERE ELIMINATED WITHOUT EVEN MAKING THE BEST THIRD-PLACE FINISHERS
South Korea, considered to be in a relatively easy group on paper, suffered two consecutive defeats against Mexico and South Africa, which was the last straw. The fact that Son Heung-min and his teammates finished Group A in third place and failed to qualify for the round of 32 by not being among the best third-placed teams caused an uproar in the country.
THE PRESIDENT TOOK ACTION
Following this failure, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung made a strong statement and ordered the Ministry of Sports to conduct an urgent investigation. At the center of criticism was head coach Hong Myung-bo, who was accused of bias in team selection and squad composition.
"I DEMAND THAT AN INVESTIGATION BE CONDUCTED"
In a statement on his social media account, President Lee Jae-myung expressed his shock and disappointment, saying, "This unexpected and painful result has completely astonished me. We have seen once again how vital personnel choices in the management level are. When a 'one of us' mindset prevails over competence and an inadequate person is placed in the leadership role, it is very clear what the outcome will be. Those in authority must be accountable. I demand that the Ministry of Sports conduct a comprehensive investigation to thoroughly examine these organizational errors, analyze their causes, and prevent similar processes from recurring."
HE RESIGNED FROM HIS POST
Meanwhile, another hot development occurred in South Korea. South Korea's head coach Hong Myung-bo resigned from his post following the backlash against him.