South Korea's early exit from the 2026 North America World Cup has fueled criticism that extends beyond the head coach to the broader operational structure of the Korea Football Association. Amid the fallout, a remark by JTBC football analyst Lee Hwang-jae has drawn considerable attention.
Lee posted on Instagram on Monday, saying the key question was why Lee Jae-sung of Mainz — a player who had virtually always been in the starting lineup — was left out of the starting XI against South Africa, and why he was not brought on as a substitute even when the team was trailing. "That is where the tangled thread begins," he added.
The comment sparked a range of reactions online. Some raised the possibility of tactical disagreements between the coaching staff and players following the Mexico match, though those claims remain unconfirmed.
Lee Jae-sung had started both of South Korea's previous group-stage matches — against the Czech Republic and Mexico. But he was left out of the starting lineup for Thursday's third match against South Africa and was never introduced even as the team fell behind 0-1.
During the match, a video circulated on social media appearing to show Lee Kang-in saying during a hydration break, "Jae-sung needs to come in now. If he comes in later, it'll be too late."
Analyst Park Moon-sung said the decision was baffling. "Son Heung-min and Lee Jae-sung are the two forwards who press the hardest in our attack right now, and both were left out of the starting lineup. It's a lineup I cannot understand," he said.
Sports critic Lee Jong-hun also questioned the selection, saying the South Africa match called for an aggressive approach. "When I saw those two left out of the starting lineup, I had to question what I was seeing," he said. "Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in and Lee Jae-sung are the attacking triangle — and they left Lee Kang-in alone up there."
bbo@heraldcorp.com
