BREAKING: Coach Park Hang Seo resigns after South Korea's World Cup shock

Coach Park Hang Seo stepped down from his role as Vice President of the Korea Football Association (KFA) following South Korea's early exit from the 2026 World Cup group stage.

Coach Park Hang Seo has officially concluded his tenure at the Korea Football Association (KFA) after the disappointing 2026 World Cup. According to Newsis, the strategist, who spent many years with Vietnamese football, decided to resign as KFA Vice President after South Korea was eliminated in the group stage. This move is seen as taking responsibility for the failed campaign of Korean football on North American soil.

According to Newsis, Mr. Park Hang Seo expressed his wish to resign immediately when the South Korean national team was officially eliminated from the 2026 World Cup. During the tournament, he served as the head of the national team delegation, accompanying the entire squad in their quest for a spot in the Round of 16. After a private farewell meeting held in Mexico with KFA Secretary General Kim Seung Hee and the players, he completed his duties and stepped down from the position of KFA Vice President.

In a message to fans, Mr. Park Hang Seo apologized for not meeting the expectations of Korean football. He said: "As the head of the delegation and representative of the Korea Football Association, I deeply apologize that the team did not achieve the results expected by the people at the 2026 World Cup". The statement by the 68-year-old coach quickly attracted significant attention from Korean media, as he is one of the top leaders of the KFA in the 2025-2028 term.

South Korea's defeat at the 2026 World Cup is regarded as one of the biggest shocks in the country's football history. The team earned only three points from three group matches, with one win and two losses, thereby finishing third in Group A and leaving the tournament early. This is also South Korea's worst World Cup performance in terms of final ranking since the team began competing in the world's biggest football event.

According to South Korean media, Mr. Park Hang Seo's decision came shortly after coach Hong Myung Bo also announced his departure from the national team to take responsibility for the disappointing performance. These two consecutive moves from key figures indicate that the KFA is preparing for a major overhaul following the 2026 World Cup failure, with the goal of quickly bringing South Korean football back on track.

After leaving KFA, Mr. Park Hang Seo will quickly return to coaching. Previously, his agency confirmed that the South Korean strategist has signed a two-year contract with Kanchanaburi Power Club in Thai League 2. According to the plan, he will officially take over the Thai club in July, opening a new chapter in his career after concluding his journey with the South Korean national team at the 2026 World Cup.