South Korean president criticizes national football coach following World Cup elimination

South Korea was eliminated from the World Cup after finishing with one win and two losses in a group featuring Mexico, South Africa, and the Czech Republic. The team failed to qualify for the knockout stages, missing the cut for the top eight third-placed teams. Following the exit, President Lee Jae-myung publicly criticized national team coach Hong Myung-bo on the social media platform X. The President described the coach as incompetent and alleged that the team selection process was marred by favoritism. He explicitly stated that personnel decisions prioritized personal connections over merit. Consequently, the South Korean government has called for an official investigation into the national team's performance and management, overseen by the Ministry of Sports. The hiring of Hong Myung-bo in 2024 has previously faced media scrutiny regarding alleged lack of transparency. The President emphasized that this outcome highlights the negative consequences of poor leadership choices.