South Korea Coach Hong Grilled by MPs over World Cup Flop
Hong Myung-bo denied special favors and disputed salary claims as lawmakers questioned South Korea’s 1-0 World Cup exit and his decision to bench Son Heung-min.
- On Thursday, former South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo appeared before MPs in Seoul to address the Korea Football Association hiring process and the national team's World Cup exit.
- The team failed to reach the last 32 at the 48-team World Cup held in Mexico, the United States, and Canada, following a shock 1-0 defeat to South Africa.
- Lawmakers questioned Hong regarding 2024 hiring allegations, citing claims that KFA recruiters conducted opaque interviews and raised concerns about his reported US$2.6 million salary.
- Labeled a "golden generation" featuring Son Heung-min, Kim Min-jae, and Lee Kang-in, the squad underperformed. President Lee Jae Myung blamed the failure on "incompetent people" and "loyalty and factionalism" tainting recruitment.
- Hong denied asking for special favors, stating, "I believe the proper procedures had been followed." He told lawmakers, "I was the head coach, and that's a position that is ultimately judged by results.
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Former president of the Korean Football Association (KFA), Chung Mong-gyu, and former male team coach Hong Myung-bo, appeared this Thursday before the South Korean National Assembly, where they were subjected to intense interrogation after the elimination of the team in the group phase of the World Cup. Both appeared as witnesses before the committee ... Continue reading "Ex DT from South Korea appears before Parliament after role in the World: …
Former national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo drew a line under the controversy surrounding his conflict with players, stating that his decision not to start Son Heung-min and Lee Jae-sung in the CONCACAF match against South Africa was due to tactical reasons. Former Coach Hong testified at the Korea Football Association hearing before the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee.
Ex-Korea football body chief, ex-nat'l team coach deny allegations of irregularities
Former Korea Football Association (KFA) President Chung Mong-gyu and former national team head coach Hong Myung-bo apologized Thursday for Korea's disappointing group-stage exit at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but firmly denied allegations of favoritism and procedural irregularities that have marred Korean football. Appearing before the National Assembly's Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee, the two acknowledged responsibility for failing to mee…
South Korea coach Hong grilled by MPs over World Cup flop
Hong resigned after the elimination, but appeared Thursday at a hearing for parliament's sports and culture committee probe into the actions of the Korea Football Association (KFA). Hong, a former South Korea defender who played in the 2002 World Cup at home, has been pilloried by fans, pundits and politicians since his side were eliminated by a shock 1-0 defeat to South Africa. Hong was jeered at the airport on his return by fans dismayed over …
Former Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-kyu and former head coach Hong Myung-bo appeared at a National Assembly hearing and bowed their heads to the public regarding the controversy surrounding the poor performance at the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup. Former President Chung stated that he would focus on management after his resignation, while former Coach Hong conveyed that he feels a heavy sense of responsibility as a coach for failin…
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