Coach Park Hang Seo resigns, major upheaval in South Korean football after World Cup defeat

Park Hang Seo resigned from his roles as KFA Vice Chairman and national team delegation chief, as the leadership of South Korean football faces turmoil after the disappointing 2026 World Cup campaign.

According to Newsis On July 7, Mr. Park Hang Seo resigned while in Mexico, where the South Korean team was competing in the 2026 World Cup. The former Vietnam national team coach left the KFA after Hong Myung Bo's side failed to advance beyond the group stage.

At the 2026 World Cup, South Korea managed only one win and two losses, ranking 34th out of 48 teams. Unable to secure a spot in the round of 32, Coach Hong Myung Bo accepted responsibility and announced his resignation immediately after the team was eliminated.

Mr. Park Hang Seo later publicly apologized to South Korean fans. As KFA Vice President and head of the national team, he acknowledged that South Korean football had failed to meet expectations and argued that the KFA needs strong reforms to prepare for the future.

Coach Park Hang Seo's decision to leave the KFA comes at a time when South Korean football is seeing major leadership changes. Yesterday, July 6, KFA President Chung Mong Gyu formally submitted his resignation, ending more than 13 years at the helm of the Korea Football Association.

Mr. Chung Mong Gyu initially planned to step down after the 2026 World Cup. However, the early group-stage exit of the South Korean team led him to bring forward his departure. In his resignation statement, the KFA chief took responsibility for the shortcomings and mistakes during his management of South Korean football.

Thus, within a short time after the World Cup failure, South Korean football has successively bid farewell to head coach Hong Myung Bo, KFA President Chung Mong Gyu, and Vice President Park Hang Seo.

After leaving the Korea Football Association, Coach Park Hang Seo will return to coaching. He is moving to lead Kanchanaburi Power FC, a club competing in Thai League 2. The two sides reached an agreement in May, and the South Korean manager will start his new role tomorrow, July 8.