'Resignation' Hong Myung-bo's Meaningful Remark: "Stepping Down as Coach, But..."

*This content was translated by AI.

Was it a simple message of support for Korean football, or a message leaving room for a future return to the football world? Hong Myung-bo (57), the South Korea national team coach who resigned to take responsibility for the poor performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, added a meaningful remark upon announcing his resignation.

Coach Hong Myung-bo held a press conference the day after South Korea's elimination from the group stage was confirmed, on the 29th (Korea time), at Chivas Verde Valley in Zapopan, Mexico, stating, "I intend to step down as the coach of the South Korea national team," thereby expressing his resignation. Originally, the contract between Coach Hong Myung-bo and the Korea Football Association (KFA) was set to extend beyond this World Cup until the AFC Asian Cup in January next year.

Under Coach Hong Myung-bo, South Korea managed only one win and two losses in Group A, finishing third in the group. Consequently, they failed to secure a spot in the Round of 32, which was awarded to the top eight third-placed teams among the 12th groups, and were ultimately eliminated. This marked Hong's second attempt at a World Cup, 12 years after the 2014 Brazil World Cup, which also ended in group stage elimination.

Ultimately, Coach Hong Myung-bo held a press conference locally, stating, "A coach's position requires no explanation before results. That is why I am here today to speak of responsibility rather than explanation. We could not deliver the results that the people of Korea expected. The responsibility lies entirely with me, the coach." He directly announced his resignation to take responsibility for the poor performance.

Following this, Coach Hong Myung-bo added, "I am stepping down from the position of coach of the Oh Neul (CEO) team, but I have not let go of my heart for South Korean football." This could be interpreted as a simple message of support for Korean football, but it was also a meaningful remark that could be read as indicating he does not intend to leave the Korean football scene even after stepping down as the national team coach.

This is not the first time Coach Hong Myung-bo has failed at a World Cup, and moreover, this World Cup was shrouded in fierce controversy over fairness from the very beginning of Hong's tenure, making the fallout even more severe. Nevertheless, Coach Hong Myung-bo did not explicitly state any intention to sever ties with Korean football, such as returning to the Korean football scene.

In fact, Coach Hong Myung-bo has a history of quietly returning to the Korean football scene after a disastrous World Cup failure. During the 2014 Brazil World Cup, he was eliminated with one draw and two losses, and faced fierce criticism over controversies such as the so-called land acquisition scandal and post-World Cup dinner party controversy. On his way back to Korea after the World Cup, he even received the so-called "yeot baptism."

Afterward, Coach Hong Myung-bo left Korea to coach Hangzhou Greentown in China, and three years after the World Cup, in 2017, he returned to the Korean football scene as an executive director of the Korea Football Association. He later returned to the field as the coach of Ulsan HD and was even appointed as the national team coach, embarking on a second World Cup challenge.

Immediately after this World Cup failure, Coach Hong Myung-bo stated, "I have not let go of my heart for South Korean football," leaving a message that still suggests a connection with Korean football. Given the fierce criticism he received and his position at the center of controversy, any attempt to return to the football scene would now inevitably cause a significant stir. However, Coach Hong has already faced fierce criticism since his second appointment as coach and, despite lacking support throughout his tenure, managed to lead the team to a second World Cup.

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*This content was translated by AI.