South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has demanded a formal government inquiry into the national football team’s disappointing performance at the recent FIFA World Cup. The squad failed to progress past the group stage, managing only a single victory against the Czech Republic while suffering losses to Mexico and South Africa. Expressing his deep frustration, President Lee questioned the rationale behind the appointment of head coach Hong Myung-bo and emphasized that the heavy reliance on taxpayer money necessitates a transparent review of how these funds were utilized.

Following the team's early exit, Hong, a celebrated former national team defender, announced his resignation. While Hong expressed that he remained committed to his responsibilities until the very end, the President has tasked the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism with a comprehensive investigation to identify systemic failures. Lee pledged to implement wide-reaching reforms within the country's sports administration, aiming to prevent future embarrassments and ensure that state resources are managed more effectively for national sporting programs moving forward.