Korea coach Hong Myung-bo leaves the pitch following the Korean national team's 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A match against Mexico in Guadalajara, Mexico, June 18. Reuters-Yonhap
A petition is calling for the immediate dismissal of Korean national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo, just hours after the team's 0-1 loss to South Africa in its final Group A match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a defeat that ended Korea's hopes of securing an automatic berth in the Round of 32.
The petition, posted on the National Assembly's public petition website on Thursday, is seeking Hong's immediate dismissal and the "introduction of a system to invalidate coaching appointments made in violation of official procedures."
Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo attends a press conference in Guadalajara, Thursday, ahead of a recovery training session following Korea's loss against South Africa a day earlier in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A match. The Korean national football team has returned to their base camp in Guadalajara and are awaiting the results of other groups to determine whether they will advance to the Round of 32. Yonhap
The petitioner, identified only by the surname Jeon, argued that Hong's appointment had been tainted by procedural flaws from the outset. "Hong's appointment was surrounded by numerous allegations and procedural defects," the petitioner wrote. "The Korea Football Association's official selection process was effectively ignored, making it difficult to avoid criticism that the appointment was fundamentally illegitimate."
The petition also blamed Hong for the national team's "lifeless" performance at the World Cup.
"Despite fielding what many considered the strongest squad in Korea's World Cup history, the team finished with one win and two losses, placing third in the group," the petitioner wrote. "The performance against South Africa was so lifeless that it could be regarded as one of the worst displays by a Korean team in World Cup history."
South Africa coach Hugo Broos, right, shakes hands with Korea coach Hong Myung-bo before the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A match at Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday. Reuters-Yonhap
The petitioner further claimed that the players had failed to reach their full potential under a coach whose appointment was allegedly improper.
Aside from Hong's removal, the petition also urged sweeping reforms to the governance of the Korea Football Association (KFA).
Source: Korea Times News
