Korea’s World Cup Exit Sparks Familiar Cycle of Criticism

South Korea's men's soccer team was eliminated in the group stage at the 2026 World Cup, and head coach Hong Myung-bo resigned Sunday under intense public pressure. The loss has triggered the country's predictable post-tournament ritual: heated criticism, calls for reform from high-ranking officials like President Lee Jae Myung, and soul-searching about what went wrong. This pattern of accountability—sometimes helpful, sometimes harsh—has defined Korean soccer culture since at least 1998.