South Korea's World Cup Qualifier Loss Sparks Celebrity Outcry

South Korea fell 0‑1 to South Africa in its final Group A match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Guadalupe, Mexico, leaving the team in third place and its Round of 32 spot in jeopardy. The unexpected defeat prompted a wave of criticism from K‑pop idols and actors who are known football fans.

Super Junior’s Kim Hee‑chul posted on Instagram, “Even someone like me who doesn’t know much about soccer can see this is unbelievable,” adding that he could not stop feeling angry. Highlight’s Yoon Doo‑joon expressed disbelief on a group’s YouTube live, saying, “I honestly can’t believe it… this could have been a chance for Korean soccer to take another step forward.”

Actors also weighed in. Han Jung‑soo wrote, “I’m so, so angry. They gathered the country’s best players and produced the worst performance in our history,” and called for coach Hong Myung‑bo’s salary to be confiscated, accusing him of staying in the job only for money. Kim Soo‑ro offered a sympathetic note, urging the players to keep fighting despite the heat and disappointment. These reactions highlight the broader public frustration with the team’s tactics and coach selection after the loss.