Hong out to dry as Korean president blames coach for exit

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has blamed the country's early World Cup exit on favouritism in personnel appointments and blasted coach Hong Myung-bo, while demanding a sports ministry-led investigation into the national team's performance.

Hong resigned as head coach of South Korea on Sunday. "I would like to sincerely apologise to the citizens who have loved Korean football and always supported the national team," Hong said.

This came after strident criticism from his nation's leader.

"I am not just taken aback by this unexpected outcome, I am utterly baffled," Lee posted on X, reacting to the team's elimination despite being widely-expected to advance from a relatively easy group.

"Once again, it has been proven that personnel decisions are everything. When 'us versus them' is prioritised over competence, and an incompetent person is selected as a leader, the outcome is as clear as day."

Successive losses to Mexico and South Africa (highlights below) left South Korea third in Group A, outside the eight best third-placed teams advancing to the round of 32.