(L-R) South Korea's defender #23 Jens Castrop, midfielder #24 Kim Jin-gyu, defender #22 Seol Young-woo and defender #02 Lee Han-beom walk off the pitch after losing the 2026 World Cup Group A football match between South Africa and South Korea at the Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe, Mexico, on June 24, 2026. (Photo by Yuri CORTEZ / AFP)
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung condemned the country’s premature World Cup exit on Sunday, pointing the finger at “incompetent people” and apologising to the nation.
South Korea’s turbulent campaign in North America ended at the group phase and could lead to the international retirement of captain Son Heung-min.
After three days of anxious waiting to see if they would squeeze into the knockout rounds as one of the eight third-placed finishers, results went against South Korea to send them home.
Deeply unpopular coach Hong Myung-bo is sure to be fired or will quit, and the nation’s president promised wholesale reform.
