Hong Myung-bo resigns as South Korea manager after World Cup group-stage exit sparks petition

Hong Myung-bo resigned as South Korea head coach on Sunday following the team’s group-stage exit at World Cup 2026, becoming the fourth manager to leave his post after a poor performance in North America.

South Korea opened their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Czechia but collapsed thereafter, losing 1-0 to both Mexico and South Africa. Those back-to-back defeats ended their tournament, as they failed to finish among the top eight third-place group finishers and were eliminated without reaching the knockout rounds.

The exit triggered a fierce public backlash. Fans launched a petition calling for Hong’s removal and the reform of South Korea’s national team structure, while South Korean President Lee Jae-myung called for a formal investigation into the reasons behind the early exit. Hong confirmed his resignation at a press conference in Mexico.

“Even though I am leaving the national team, I am not abandoning Korean football altogether,” Hong said. “I will cheer for the national team from the bottom of my heart and hope that the team will be trusted and loved by the people once again.”

The petition was scathing in its assessment, stating that “the Korea Football Association’s official selection process was effectively ignored” and that the appointment was “fundamentally illegitimate.” It added that the performance against South Africa “could be regarded as one of the worst displays by a Korean team in World Cup history.”

President Lee was equally damning in a post on X. “I am not just taken aback by this unexpected outcome, I am utterly baffled,” he wrote. “When loyalty and factionalism are valued over competence, and an incapable person is appointed as a leader, the outcome is as predictable as fire.”

This was Hong’s second spell in charge of the national side. He previously guided South Korea to the 2014 World Cup before stepping down. His reappointment in 2024 was controversial from the outset, with Korean media raising allegations of favouritism and a lack of transparency in the hiring process — all of which Hong denied at the time. Reports have since emerged that his standing in South Korea fell so sharply that he was reportedly turned away from various shops and restaurants.