South Korea’s World Cup wreckage: From Son’s ‘absolute heartache’ to threats against the coach

Key Points:

• South Korea suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to South Africa in the World Cup group stage, leading to their elimination and the resignation of head coach Hong Myung-bo, who apologized to the nation for the team's poor performance.
• The decision to bench star player Son Heung-min during the crucial match against South Africa drew significant criticism, with Son expressing regret for not helping the team and uncertainty about his future World Cup participation.
• Internal tensions and previous controversies within the South Korean squad, along with criticism of the Korea Football Association's (KFA) management and hiring processes, have intensified calls for reform following the team's disappointing exit.
• South Korean authorities announced a special audit of the KFA to investigate the root causes of the team's failure, amid public outrage and security concerns including threats against coach Hong after the team's return home.
• Despite initial enthusiasm and strong fan support in Mexico, South Korea's early exit marks their worst World Cup performance since 1998, prompting widespread disappointment and demands for structural changes in Korean football governance.