Korea Coach Faces Parliament, Takes Responsibility for Failure

Hong Myung-bo, the former coach of the South Korean national team, acknowledged his full responsibility for the failure that accompanied the team's journey in the 2026 World Cup. This admission came during his appearance before the Culture and Sports Committee in the South Korean parliament, in a hearing dedicated to reviewing the performance of the Korea Football Association following the team's early exit from the tournament.

During the session, Hong stressed that the evaluation of any coach is linked to the results achieved on the pitch, affirming that the national team did not meet the expected level in the World Cup, which makes him fully responsible for this failure.

The former coach stated: "I was the head coach of the national team, and in the end, my work is judged by the results. Since our performance in the World Cup was not up to standard, I take full responsibility for what happened."

The hearing session was not limited to discussing the national team's results, as lawmakers reopened the file on the appointment of Hong as head of the coaching staff in 2024, following earlier allegations of preferential treatment during his selection to lead the national team.

Hong responded to those allegations by categorically denying them, affirming that his appointment was made in accordance with the established legal procedures, and that he did not request any special privileges or facilities during the contract negotiations.

The session also addressed reports claiming he earns an annual salary of 3.8 billion Korean won, but the former coach denied the accuracy of the figure, opting not to disclose his actual salary.

Hong Myung-bo announced his resignation immediately after South Korea's exit from the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, following a 1-0 defeat to South Africa. This result ended the team's journey early and sparked widespread criticism towards the coaching staff and the Korea Football Association.