Why are South Korean fans so angry at their football coach?

Angry fans in Seoul awaited the arrival of the former head coach of South Korea’s men’s national football team after the country failed to advance to the World Cup knockout stages.

Hong Myung-bo, who announced his resignation at a press conference in Mexico on Sunday, said, “We did not get the results our fans expected.”

The announcement came after the country’s President Lee Jae Myung said he felt “not only confusion but also complete surprise at the unexpected outcome.”

The president also called for an investigation into the reasons behind the team’s performance.

Seoul reporter Jake Kwon describes how Hong stepped down as star captain in 2002 and embarrassed the head coach in 2026.