South Korean president, former players, fans want change after World Cup exit | World Cup 2026 news

The dangers of South Korea World Cup first exit has caused anger at home, and calls for a complete overhaul at the top have not been stopped by the resignation of coach Hong Myung-bo.

South Korea, a World Cup semifinalist in 2002, exited the tournament after failing to qualify for the finals as one of the top eight finishers.

They had them 32 finalists in the possibility of suffering a shock 1-0 loss live in South Africa.

Their early exit led to coach Hong quitting on Sunday and questioning the future of the international captain Son Heung-min.

It also caused the group to be criticized by the country’s president, Lee Jae Myung, who pointed the finger at “senseless people” and apologized to the nation.

The president’s comments reflect public anger that has come to a head after years of dissatisfaction with South Korean soccer officials.

Former captain Park Ji-sung said, “We could have expected this years ago.

“We have to look back and ask ourselves why things have come to this,” the former Manchester United player said after being confirmed the club had been relegated.

“Even though we have spent ten years learning how to prepare for the World Cup and develop Korean football, we have also forgotten these lessons.”

South Korea is expected to get out of Group A which included Mexico, South Africa and Czechia.

They started with 2-1 defeated the Czechs but lost 1-0 to Mexico before bowing out with South Africa.

The team is expected to arrive home on Tuesday morning, but local media have reported that the Korea Football Association (KFA) does not want to organize a welcome ceremony.

In 2014, angry fans pelted the team with Korean sweets – seen as the worst kind of insult – after they returned from the World Cup in Brazil, where they were dropped from the youth team when Hong took over as coach.

‘A message for change’

Hong has been a lightning rod for criticism since he returned to duty in July 2024, five months after his co-winner, Germany’s World Cup winner, Jurgen Klinsmann, was beaten.

The KFA board was hit with what led to Hong’s reinstatement, with questions raised about his transparency and fairness.

Hong, who is often mocked by the fans, did not play a role in the World Cup by bringing down the player Son in the game in South Africa, where South Korea needed just one point to advance.

Hong admitted later that he was struggling to understand what had gone wrong, as the nation anxiously awaited the results of the other games to decide its future.

Lee Chun-soo, a member of the 2002 World Cup team, said he “felt sad and disappointed for Uzbekistan” against the Democratic Republic of the Congo and hoped that the result would send South Korea.

“This is a message to change,” Lee said on his YouTube channel. “Everyone should be ready to resign.”

South Korean fans reserved their anger for KFA president Chung Mong-gyu.

Chung announced before the World Cup that he would quit the game, blaming a “lack of virtue” following fierce criticism of his 13-year reign.

The 65-year-old, who is the fourth president of the KFA, has been criticized for trying to pardon former players he banned for life for match-fixing.

Chung and Hong may not be the only ones bowing down, captain Son has not yet spoken about his future.

The ambassador, who turns 34 next month, had previously announced his retirement from international football.

Former captain Park said South Korea should learn from the past.

“It’s sad that this kind of cycle keeps repeating itself,” he said.

“We must dream and create a better future, and move forward slowly so that we do not repeat these mistakes.”