Head coach Hong Myung-bo resigns, Park Hang-seo bows in apology following South Korea’s early World Cup exit

Serving as the KFA vice president who is in charge of the national team, Park, the former Vietnam national team coach, was the first official to answer the media at a press conference held on Sunday (local time) at the team’s training camp in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico.

“As the head of the World Cup team, I offer a deep apology to the KFA for failing to meet the expectations of the people at the 2026 North Central America World Cup,” Park said, as quoted by Chosun. “The players, coaching staff, and support team did their best to prepare for the tournament, but we failed to deliver results that would repay the public’s support.”

Hong Myung-bo’s resignation

The team’s early exit from what was widely considered a manageable group has triggered domestic backlash.

High-profile figures, including South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young, and football legend Park Ji-sung, have all publicly expressed their disappointment regarding the team’s performance and the decline of South Korean football.

At the center of this criticism is head coach Hong. The 57-year-old former center-back was a football legend who helped lead South Korea to the 2002 World Cup semi-finals.

However, his managerial record has been inconsistent. This marks his second group-stage elimination as the national team coach, following a similar outcome at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Following Park’s apology, Hong stepped forward, made a bow and officially announced his resignation. He stepped down despite holding a contract that was intended to run through the 2027 Asian Cup.

Public opinion was already skeptical about coach Hong from the moment he took the job.

His appointment process under KFA president Chung Mong-gyu was heavily criticized, with many calling it unfair and improper. This ongoing controversy made it incredibly difficult for Hong to win over the fans and the media during his tenure.

Before speaking to the press, the manager was seen sitting with a somber expression, his hands resting on his knees and his head bowed. During his statement, his eyes occasionally reddened with emotion.

Hong maintained that accepting the role for a second time was a difficult decision, but one he approached with absolute dedication and responsibility. He firmly denied allegations that he took the job for personal gain, insisting his motives were purely to serve his country.

“I cannot claim that all my decisions were correct. However, the standard for every decision I made was always South Korean football,” Hong said, as quoted by Chosun. “A coach is in a position where no explanation can justify the results. That is why I stand here to take responsibility rather than make excuses. I failed to deliver the results the public expected. The responsibility lies entirely with me, the coach.”

End of an era

South Korea competed in Group A, opening the tournament with a promising 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic. However, the momentum quickly faded as they suffered consecutive 0-1 defeats against Mexico and South Africa.

These results left South Korea in third place in Group A, resulting in the early elimination. They concluded the expanded 48-team tournament in a disappointing 34th place overall.

Park Hang-seo as the head coach of Vietnam in 2022. Photo by Read/Duc Dong

The squad will split into different groups to begin returning home on Monday. The traditional airport welcoming ceremony at Incheon Airport is expected to be canceled because of the results.

This early exit likely marks the end of South Korea’s celebrated golden generation.

Veterans such as Son Heung-min, Kim Min-jae, Hwang In-beom, Lee Jae-sung and Kim Seung-gyu have been the backbone of the team for years, peaking with an appearance in the Round of 16 at the 2022 tournament. Moving forward, the nation’s hopes will increasingly rest on the shoulders of younger talents, such as the 25-year-old star Lee Kang-in.