Fans hold protest banners at Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport on Tuesday as former South Korea national team head coach Hong Myung-bo arrives home after resigning following the team's shock group-stage exit at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. [Yonhap]
Fans hold protest banners at Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport on Tuesday as former South Korea national team head coach Hong Myung-bo arrives home after resigning following the team's shock group-stage exit at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. [Yonhap]

As former head coach Hong Myung-bo faces fierce criticism over South Korea's stunning group-stage elimination at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, British public broadcaster BBC has published a pointed assessment of Korean football — arguing that the tables have turned between South Korea and Japan, and that Korea must look to its rival as a model for sweeping reform.

In an article published Tuesday under the headline "World Cup exit leaves South Korean football in crisis," BBC examined the problems surrounding Hong's appointment two years ago.

BBC said Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-gyu "faced criticism for bypassing normal hiring procedures and raising questions about fairness and transparency" when he appointed Hong in July 2024 — just as he had when he hired Jurgen Klinsmann more than a year earlier.

The broadcaster added that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism had recommended suspensions for Chung and other key figures following a probe into the association, yet Chung secured a fourth term in office after a court ruling allowed him to stand for election.

BBC also noted that Chung, who heads a Hyundai family company with deep and longstanding ties to the football association, announced his resignation after last month's World Cup.

Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-gyu. [Yonhap]
Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-gyu. [Yonhap]

BBC's analysis drew particular attention for its assessment that the fortunes of eternal rivals South Korea and Japan have been "reversed."

"South Korea launched Asia's first professional football league — the K League — in 1983, a full decade before Japan's J.League, and dominated Asian club competitions," BBC said.

The broadcaster added that despite South Korea's 11 consecutive World Cup appearances, the country had "clearly fallen behind Japan" during Chung's tenure.

BBC said recent friendly matches had laid bare the reversal in fortunes between the two sides.

Last October, South Korea suffered a 5-0 home defeat to Brazil, while Japan beat Brazil 3-2 in Tokyo. In March, South Korea lost 4-0 to Ivory Coast, while Japan beat England 1-0 at Wembley — becoming the first Asian team to do so.

"The chaos in Seoul stands in stark contrast to Tokyo's long-term, systematic approach," BBC said, urging South Korean football to take Japan as a model and pursue sweeping transformation.

J.League clubs, BBC noted, consistently outperform their K League rivals in Asian competitions and are sending more talent to Europe.

"Using a bitter rival as a model may be painful for South Korea, but with no coach and no association president, amid widespread anger and a desire for change, there could be no better time to turn the World Cup pain into a turning point for a fallen Asian powerhouse," BBC said.

The article closed by highlighting a comment one football fan posted on social media: "Japan has a 100-year vision with everyone working together, while in South Korea a coach is appointed based on the whims of one person who knows nothing about football."


yeonjoo7@heraldcorp.com