South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo has resigned following the country’s disappointing exit from the FIFA World Cup 2026, ending an underwhelming campaign that shocked football fans across Asia.
The resignation came shortly after South Korea failed to progress beyond the group stage despite entering the tournament as one of the continent’s strongest teams.
Adding to the controversy, South Korea’s national broadcaster KBS (Korean Broadcasting System) blurred Hong Myung-bo’s face during his post-match press conference. The unusual editorial decision quickly went viral on social media and sparked widespread discussion among football supporters.
South Korea’s FIFA World Cup Campaign Ends Early
The expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup 2026 was expected to give South Korea a better opportunity to reach the knockout stage. Instead, the team finished third in its group and failed to qualify among the tournament’s best third-placed teams.
South Korea opened its campaign with a victory over the Czech Republic before suffering defeats against South Africa and Mexico. Their hopes of advancing officially ended after the Republic of the Congo defeated Uzbekistan 3-1.
The disappointing campaign triggered intense criticism from fans, football experts, and political leaders.
KBS Blurs Hong Myung-bo During Press Conference
Following South Korea’s elimination, KBS aired footage of Hong Myung-bo’s press conference with his face intentionally blurred. Reports also suggested that the broadcaster visited the team’s hotel in Monterrey to investigate whether accommodation issues contributed to the poor performances.
The broadcast quickly attracted attention online, with many viewers interpreting the move as a symbolic expression of public disappointment.
The clip spread rapidly across social media, where fans debated the broadcaster’s editorial decision and the overall state of South Korean football.
President Lee Jae-myung Criticises National Team Leadership
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung strongly criticised the national team’s management after the early exit.
Expressing disappointment, the president questioned the decision-making process behind the coaching appointment and called for a complete review of the national football programme.
He said leadership appointments should be based on competence rather than loyalty, adding that poor personnel decisions often lead to predictable outcomes.
Hong Myung-bo Announces Resignation
After mounting criticism, Hong Myung-bo announced his resignation and apologised to football supporters.
“To all of the Korean people who love and support our national team, I would like to genuinely apologise. Today, I would like to announce that I will step down as the national team head coach.”
He accepted full responsibility for the disappointing World Cup campaign.
“As the head coach, no explanation can supersede the ultimate result. I could not deliver the outcome that our people expected. All responsibility lies with me.”
Although stepping down, Hong said he would continue supporting South Korean football from outside the national team setup.
A Difficult End to Hong Myung-bo’s Second Spell
This was Hong Myung-bo’s second tenure as South Korea’s national team coach. He also managed the team during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, where South Korea likewise failed to advance beyond the group stage.
The latest exit has intensified calls for structural reforms within South Korean football as officials prepare for the next international cycle.
With Hong Myung-bo’s resignation, the Korea Football Association now faces the challenge of rebuilding public confidence and appointing a new coach capable of leading the national team back to international success.
