Resignation of South Korea's Coach Following World Cup Exit

The coach of the South Korean national team, Hong Myung-bo, announced his resignation from his position, just hours after the country's president, Lee Jae-myung, requested the Ministry of Sports to open an investigation into the team's exit from the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.

Hong said in statements following the announcement of his decision: "I have decided to step down from my position as the national team coach. Accepting this position was not an easy decision for me, but once I took it on, I thought of nothing else but bearing the responsibility until the very last moment."

The South Korean coach, who has been leading the team since 2024, added that he takes "full responsibility" for the disappointing World Cup campaign, which ended with the team being eliminated in the group stage, sparking a wide wave of criticism within the country.

Hong Myung-bo is considered one of the most prominent legends of South Korean football, having played 136 international matches as a player and served as the historic captain of the national team before returning to coach the "Taegeuk Warriors." His resignation opens the door for the Korean Football Association to search for a new coach to lead the rebuilding of the team in preparation for upcoming challenges.