The decision comes after South Korea's defeat to South Africa in their final Group Stage match, a result that confirmed the team's elimination from the tournament. Speaking after the match, Hong expressed deep regret over the outcome and accepted full responsibility for the early exit.

Meanwhile, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung blamed the country's disappointing World Cup campaign on favoritism and cronyism in the appointment of national team officials. He also strongly criticized Hong and called on the Ministry of Sports to launch an investigation into the national team's performance.

South Korea finished third in their group with three points, recording one victory over the Czech Republic and two defeats against Mexico and South Africa, bringing their FIFA World Cup 2026™ campaign to an end at the Group Stage.

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