South Korea's World Cup campaign ended in disgrace, prompting head coach Hong Myung-bo to resign while the nation's president calls for a formal investigation into the team's collapse.
President Lee Jae-myung described the early exit as a failure of organization and personnel, explicitly citing cronyism in leadership selection. The team failed to advance from Group A, finishing behind Mexico and South Africa despite an expanded 48-team format designed to help third-placed squads survive.
Hong, a hero of the 2002 tournament as a player, accepted full responsibility. His 2024 reappointment was already deeply unpopular; critics accused the Korea Football Association of bypassing vetted foreign candidates to install a favored insider. The 2014 campaign under Hong similarly ended without a single win or knockout-stage appearance.
Local media report police are monitoring security threats against Hong upon his return to Incheon Airport.