By Bilal Ahmed
South Korea’s early exit from the World Cup first round has led to widespread anger and demands for significant changes within the country’s football leadership. The team, which reached the semifinals as co-hosts in 2002, failed to advance to the knockout stages after a surprising 1-0 loss to South Africa. This outcome has intensified long-standing discontent with the management of South Korean football.
Following the team’s elimination, coach Hong Myung-bo resigned on Sunday. However, his departure has not quelled the calls for a complete overhaul at the top levels of the Korea Football Association (KFA). The nation’s president, Lee Jae Myung, criticised “incompetent people” and issued an apology to the country, reflecting the public’s frustration.
Former captain Park Ji-sung commented on the situation, suggesting that this outcome might have been anticipated years ago. He urged a reflection on why the situation escalated to this point, noting that lessons learned over a decade for World Cup preparation and football development seemed to have been forgotten.
Controversial coaching appointments
The KFA has faced increasing criticism regarding its coaching appointment processes, particularly after the national team’s failure to reach the round of 32 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This performance, which saw Korea finish 34th out of 48 nations, marks the country’s lowest ranking in its World Cup history.
The controversy began with the appointment of Jurgen Klinsmann as head coach in 2023. Klinsmann, a former Germany striker and national team manager, drew criticism for spending limited time in Korea during his initial months, often residing in the United States. He was dismissed the following year after the team’s semifinal exit from the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, with reports indicating the KFA paid nearly 7 billion won to terminate his contract.
After a five-month period with interim coaches, Hong Myung-bo was appointed head coach in July 2024. This decision immediately sparked accusations that established procedures were not followed. KFA statutes require the head coach to be recommended by the National Team Committee and approved by the board. In May 2024, the committee had reportedly ranked Jesse Marsch as its top candidate, followed by Jesus Casas.
After committee chairperson Chung Hae-sung resigned, Lee Lim-saeng, the KFA’s former technical director, reportedly used authority granted by KFA president Chung Mong-gyu to appoint Hong. Former national team player Park Joo-ho, who served on the committee, later alleged that many members opposed foreign coach candidates and that deliberations were steered towards Hong’s appointment, stating he was unaware of the decision until its announcement.
Public and political backlash
The growing controversy led to the National Assembly summoning KFA president Chung for questioning twice in 2024. Lawmakers criticised the appointments as disorganised and unprincipled. Reports from the People Power Party suggested rumors of a university alumni cartel influencing the appointments, referencing Korea University, attended by Chung, Hong, and other key KFA officials.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism also sought disciplinary action against Chung for alleged improper involvement in the appointments, but the KFA challenged this in court. A court ruled against Chung in April.
Fan dissatisfaction was evident during Korea’s World Cup qualifier against Palestine in September 2024 at Seoul World Cup Stadium, where supporters displayed banners and chanted for Chung Mong-gyu’s removal. This mounting pressure led Chung to announce in May that he would step down after the 2026 World Cup, concluding his 13-year tenure as KFA president, despite his term extending through early 2029.
Lee Chun-soo, a member of the 2002 World Cup team, described feeling “pathetic and frustrated” while hoping for results in other games that might have allowed South Korea to progress. He stated that the situation is “a message to change” and that everyone should be prepared to step down. The team’s captain, Son Heung-min, who turns 34 next month, has not yet commented on his international future, having previously hinted at retiring from international football.
South Korea’s FIFA men’s world ranking fell to 32nd on Monday, marking its lowest position since December 2021.
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Source: aljazeera.com
