June 28, 2026
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has blamed the country's early World Cup exit on favouritism in personnel appointments and blasted coach Hong Myung-bo, while demanding a sports ministry-led investigation into the national team's performance.
"I am not just taken aback by this unexpected outcome, I am utterly baffled," Lee posted on X on Sunday, reacting to the team's elimination despite being widely expected to advance from a relatively easy group.
"Once again, it has been proven that personnel decisions are everything. When 'us versus them' is prioritised over competence, and an incompetent person is selected as a leader, the outcome is as clear as day."
Successive losses to Mexico and South Africa left South Korea third in Group A, outside the eight best third-placed teams advancing to the round of 32.
