Former national soccer team coach Hong Myung-bo again bowed his head over Korea's group-stage exit at the 2026 World Cup in North and Central America. He also said he would comply with a request to appear at a National Assembly hearing.
On the 9th, Hong released a statement titled "Message to the people," saying, "I sincerely apologize to all the people who loved and supported Korea's soccer," and, "I failed to repay your expectations and support and caused disappointment and hurt to many."
He said he would appear in person if a National Assembly hearing is held. Hong said, "If a hearing is held, I believe that venue is for explaining the World Cup result to the people. In that case, the person who should stand there is the coach, me," expressing his intent to attend.
The Culture. Sports. and Tourism Committee of the National Assembly voted on a "plan to hold a hearing on current issues related to the Korea Football Association" on the morning of the day and decided to hold the hearing on the 22nd. The committee selected former coach Hong as a witness.
Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-gyu, former technical director Lee Im-saeng, association Vice President Lee Yong-soo, former national team performance enhancement committee chair Chung Hae-sung, association executive managing director Kim Seung-hee, and former association vice presidents Choi Young-il and Park Hang-seo were also selected as witnesses.
As reference witnesses, the committee selected Park Ji-sung, a FIFA committee member who co-chairs the recently launched "K-soccer innovation committee," Ryu Seung-min, president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC), and innovation committee members Lee Young-pyo and Park Joo-ho, both commentators. Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan, who played at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America, were also placed on the reference witness list.
Hong repeatedly stressed that he is responsible for the national team's poor showing. He said, "Full responsibility for the result lies with me, the coach," and added, "Therefore, if a hearing is held, I, as the coach, will bear alone to the end the responsibility I must shoulder."
He added, "Before the people, I will state the facts I know as they are and will not avoid any questions."
On the 29th of last month, immediately after the group-stage exit, Hong announced his resignation with an apology in Mexico. At the time, he did not take separate Q&A and has not made public remarks since.
After his return, it became known that he left for Los Angeles, the United States (LA), two days later, prompting some to raise a "fleeing" controversy.
Explaining why he issued the statement, Hong said, "As time passed, content that was not factual came to be known as if it were true, and unverified stories were added," and, "Watching players and staff who devoted themselves to the national team placed amid misunderstandings and speculation in that process made me reconsider whether remaining silent was truly the right thing to do."
He also addressed the controversy over his trip to the United States. He said, "Staying in the United States was not a choice to turn away from or avoid the result," and added, "At the time, there were threats toward me and my family and concerns about personal safety, and as the head of a household, I had to protect my family."
He emphasized, "For no reason did I ever turn away from what I had to do as coach or try to avoid the people."
Hong added, "Once again, I sincerely apologize for letting the people down," and, "I will engrave in my heart, with gravity, each and every word of the rebukes and criticisms you have given."