Hong Myung-bo has stepped down as South Korea's head coach after the team's failed World Cup campaign. South Korea lost 1-0 to South Africa on Thursday, finishing third in Group A behind Mexico and the 60th-ranked South Africans. Despite hopes of advancing as one of the best third-placed teams under the new 48-team format, the Taeguk Warriors couldn't secure progression.

President Lee Jae-myung condemned the result, calling it a 'failure of organisation and personnel' and demanding a probe into the team's disappointing performance. His criticism focused on the appointment process, suggesting favoritism influenced the decision to rehire Hong. The 32nd-ranked South Koreans managed just one win and two losses throughout their group stage, falling short of expectations despite featuring star forward Son Heung-min.

Hong previously coached South Korea in 2014, when they also failed to advance beyond the group stage. His 2024 reappointment faced immediate backlash from fans who questioned why the Korea Football Association bypassed several qualified foreign-born candidates after a rigorous vetting process. The former defender captained South Korea to their historic 2002 World Cup semi-final run.

Hong apologized to supporters, accepting full responsibility for the outcome. Police are monitoring security threats at Incheon Airport after an online death threat was made against him ahead of his return to Korea. The KFA faces mounting pressure to overhaul its selection process and restore fan confidence in Korean football.