South Korea was eliminated in the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after finishing third in Group A. Their results included a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic, followed by 1-0 losses to Mexico and South Africa, preventing them from advancing to the knockout rounds [1, 2, 3, 4].

The exit sparked a strong public and political backlash. The South Korean president demanded a formal investigation and there were widespread calls for reform within the Korea Football Association (KFA) due to concerns over governance and management decisions [1, 2, 3, 4].

Hong Myung-bo, the national team coach, resigned shortly after the team's exit amid heavy criticism of his tactics, especially during the match against South Africa. Hong faced particular backlash for leaving star player Son Heung-min out of the starting lineup and only bringing him on at halftime. Hong said, "I had planned to use Son Heung-min when the South Africa team tired, but I would do things differently if I knew how the match would turn out" [1, 2, 3, 4].

Hong is a prominent figure in South Korean football, having captained the team to the 2002 World Cup semi-finals and coached the 2012 Olympic bronze medal-winning squad [1, 2, 3, 4]. His return as national team coach in July 2024 was controversial, raising questions among fans, former players, and lawmakers amid perceptions of flawed hiring processes within the KFA [1, 3].

Before his second stint with the national team, Hong restored his reputation by leading Ulsan Hyundai FC to back-to-back K League titles in 2022 and 2023 [1, 3]. The KFA itself faced criticism for a pattern of opaque hiring and firing decisions, including the brief tenure of Jurgen Klinsmann as national coach in 2023 [1, 2, 4].

Following Hong's resignation on July 3, 2026, parliamentary hearings and investigations were announced to address governance reforms within South Korean football [2, 4]. These efforts come as the KFA faces growing pressure to improve transparency and management.

Hong Myung-bo's departure marks a major turning point ahead of planned reforms to South Korea's football leadership and management structures.