Coach Hong Myung-bo drew the first consequences from South Korea’s disappointing group-stage exit at the FIFA World Cup. The 57-year-old announced his resignation, as reported by the South Korean news agency Yonhap. Hong had already failed as national coach at the 2014 World Cup and returned to the post in July 2024.
Lee Jae-myung wrote on X that he was “not only stunned by this unexpected result, but find it downright absurd.” He called on the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to thoroughly analyze the causes and consider measures for improvement. “Because significant taxpayer money and state resources were spent on participating in the World Cup,” Lee justified the investigation.
Criticism was mainly directed at the association’s selection of Hong. Former national team captain Park Ji-sung said on TV: “Maybe we have been expecting this for years. It is regrettable that we have reached this point.” South Korea was eliminated in a manageable group with Mexico, South Africa and the Czech Republic after an opening win against the Czech Republic.
Source: www.tagesspiegel.de
