South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called for a sports ministry-led investigation into the national team’s early World Cup exit. | Photo Credit: JUNG YEON-JE

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has blamed the country’s early World Cup exit on favouritism in appointments and criticised head coach Hong Myung-bo, while calling for 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, after South Korea was eliminated despite being widely expected to progress from its group.

Successive losses to Mexico and South Africa left South Korea third in Group A and outside the eight best third-placed teams that advanced to the round of 32.

“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,” Lee wrote.

Hong’s reappointment as national team manager in 2024 had already drawn criticism in South Korean media, with allegations of favouritism and a lack of transparency in the hiring process. Hong has denied the claims.

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“The reason such botched appointments, which fail to distinguish between public and private interests and prioritise personal gain over the public good, are possible is that it is impossible or difficult to monitor, check, and hold those with appointment authority accountable,” Lee wrote.

A petition calling for Hong’s dismissal, posted on the National Assembly website on Thursday, quickly gained the required number of signatures for an initial review. Social media posts showing shops with signs banning Hong from entering have also gone viral in South Korea.

“The failure to qualify, which has left the public feeling disheartened, appears to be the result of organisational and personnel failures,” Lee said.

“I ask that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism thoroughly investigate the exact circumstances of this incident, analyse its causes, and develop measures to prevent recurrence and ensure improvement.”

Published on Jun 28, 2026