South Korea’s World Cup run ends in the group stage, triggering public and political calls for change. President Lee Jae Myung says he is “utterly baffled” by the results and calls for a government investigation into what went wrong. Across reports, Lee focuses criticism on the process that led to the appointment of head coach Hong Myung-bo, alleging that the selection did not prioritize competence and instead reflected favoritism or cronyism.
After the team’s elimination, Hong resigns as head coach. He says he is stepping down and describes the decision as difficult, while adding that once he took the role he focused on being responsible until the end.
Lee also points to the use of public funds and state support for the national team’s participation. He asks the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to investigate the “precise circumstances,” analyze causes, and propose measures to prevent a repeat. The president says reforms to sports administration will be pursued following the inquiry.
The reports collectively describe a sequence of elimination, coach resignation, and a presidential demand for a formal government review of the team’s performance and administration.
