South Korean President Lee Jae Myung orders probe into World Cup exit

South Korea's national football team failed to advance beyond the group stage of the World Cup, finishing with three points after a win over the Czech Republic and defeats to Mexico and South Africa. President Lee Jae Myung expressed shock, saying he was "utterly baffled" and "completely surprised" by the result.

Lee demanded a formal investigation by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism into the circumstances of the loss, criticizing the Korean Football Association's appointment of Hong Myung‑bo as head coach and suggesting the selection process lacked transparency. He called for the ministry to analyze the causes, prepare measures to prevent recurrence, and initiate reforms in sports administration to ensure such a failure does not happen again.