South Korea's dismal first-round exit from the World Cup has sparked fury at home, with calls for a complete overhaul at the top not silenced by coach Hong Myung-bo's resignation. The team, semi-finalists as co-hosts in 2002, limped out after failing to secure a knockout spot as one of the top eight third-place finishers. They had the last 32 within reach but suffered a shock 1-0 loss to lower-ranked South Africa.
Coach Resigns Amid Public Anger
The early exit prompted Hong to quit on Sunday and cast doubt over the international future of captain Son Heung-min. It also earned the team a rebuke from President Lee Jae Myung, who pointed the finger at 'incompetent people' and apologized to the nation. The president's comments reflect public anger that has reached boiling point after years of simmering discontent with South Korean football chiefs.
Former captain Park Ji-sung said, 'We may have expected this outcome years ago. We have to look back and ask ourselves why things have come to this. Even after spending a decade learning how to prepare for the World Cup and develop Korean football, we have forgotten those lessons once again.'
Group Stage Performance
South Korea were expected to advance from Group A, which included co-hosts Mexico, South Africa, and the Czech Republic. They started with a 2-1 win over the Czechs but lost 1-0 to Mexico before flopping against South Africa. The team were expected to arrive home on Tuesday morning, but local media reported that the Korea Football Association (KFA) was not planning an event to welcome them back. In 2014, angry fans pelted the team with Korean candies upon their return from the World Cup in Brazil, where they exited in the group stage during Hong's first spell as coach.
Criticism of KFA and Leadership
Hong has been a lightning rod for criticism since returning to the job in July 2024, five months after his predecessor, German World Cup winner Jurgen Klinsmann, was axed. The KFA came under fire for the process leading to Hong's reappointment, with questions over transparency and fairness. Hong, regularly booed by fans, did himself no favors at the World Cup by dropping star player Son for the South Africa game, where South Korea needed only a point to progress. Hong admitted afterward that he struggled to understand what went wrong as the nation nervously awaited results in other games to decide their fate.
Lee Chun-soo, a member of the 2002 World Cup team, said he 'felt pathetic and frustrated rooting for Uzbekistan' against the Democratic Republic of Congo, hoping the result would send South Korea through. 'This is a message to change,' Lee said on his YouTube channel. 'Everyone should be ready to step down.'
KFA President Under Fire
South Korean fans reserved significant anger for KFA president Chung Mong-gyu. Chung said before the World Cup that he would quit after the tournament, blaming his 'lack of virtue' following fierce criticism of his 13-year tenure. The 65-year-old, in his fourth term as KFA president, came under fire for trying to pardon former players banned for life for match-fixing.
Uncertain Future for Son Heung-min
Chung and Hong might not be the only ones to bow out, with captain Son yet to comment on his future. The skipper, who turns 34 next month, had previously hinted at retiring from international football. Former captain Park said South Korea needed to learn from the past. 'It's unfortunate that this kind of cycle keeps repeating,' he said. 'We must dream of and shape a better future, and move forward step by step so that we don't repeat these mistakes.'
