Hong Myung-bo, head coach of the national football team, is seen at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Thursday. Yonhap
South Korea's World Cup qualifier on Thursday highlighted serious issues with the national football team. Despite being ranked 23rd by FIFA, South Korea was held to a scoreless draw by Palestine, which is ranked 96th. While the result is troubling, it's not the sole concern. Upsets can happen in sports, where underdogs sometimes defeat stronger teams. Although Thursday's performance was disappointing, it's too early to write off South Korea's chances for the 2026 World Cup.
The core issue with South Korean football lies off the field. The recent shake-up of the national team's coaching staff has sparked widespread frustration among fans.
The crowd at the Seoul World Cup Stadium jeered whenever head coach Hong Myung-bo appeared on the big screen. Some fans held up banners criticizing the Korean Football Association (KFA) and its president, Chung Myong-gyu, who appointed Hong. Signs included messages like “Korean soccer in dark age” and “We hate the KFA.”
In a social media post, the Red Devils, South Korea's official football supporters, clarified that their anger during the game was aimed at the KFA and head coach Hong, not the players. They accused the KFA of losing common sense and values like fair competition, which they claimed has left fans frustrated.
Their statement reignited controversy over the KFA's decision in July to appoint Hong as the new head coach, following the dismissal of former coach Jurgen Klinsmann. This decision faced widespread criticism from experts and fans alike. Several retired players criticized the KFA for making a poor choice and pointed to a flawed internal process. They warned that, if not addressed, this reshuffle could severely undermine the national team's competitiveness.
The Red Devils' statement released on Friday indicates a disconnect between the national football team and its fans.
The strained relations raise a crucial question about the unity of Team Korea. The ideal scenario is for players, coaching staff, and fans to be united, working together as suggested by the phrase "one for all, all for one," rather than being at odds with each other.
Unfortunately, the three sides are not united. While the players and coaching staff may be in sync, the fans are not.
Who's responsible for the divide? How did football fans end up turning their backs on the national team? The root cause is the KFA's recent reshuffle of the coaching staff.
The KFA is responsible for finding and selecting the national football team's coaching staff. It has an internal committee of experts who vote on head coach selections, allowing them to make independent decisions on these matters.
However, the KFA's decision must be reasonable enough to gain public trust. The appointment of Hong as head coach faced strong criticism from experts, who argued that the selection was a top-down decision lacking a consensus-building process among KFA members. Critics argued that Hong was not the best choice and suggested that there are more qualified candidates who could perform better in the role.
The situation where the national football team faces opposition from its own fans needs to be addressed. In a globally significant event like the World Cup, support from home fans is crucial and can impact game results.
Jeers and boos during Thursday's match — although undesirable — reflect how football fans express their feelings about the national team. The KFA should heed these reactions, engage with fans to understand their frustrations, and work to restore their confidence.
Ignoring the angry crowd or pretending not to hear their feedback is not what the KFA should be doing. A national team thrives on the support of its fans, and sports should serve to unite the public, not divide them.