The fallout from the South Korean national soccer team's elimination from the World Cup group stage reached the confirmation hearing for the prime minister nominee. Lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties pointed to structural problems at the Korea Football Association, with remarks such as "the soccer federation must be thoroughly cleaned out" and "shouldn't we be holding a hearing for coach Hong Myung-bo?"
At the confirmation hearing for prime minister nominee Han Sung-sook held at the National Assembly on Wednesday, independent lawmaker Choi Hyuk-jin referenced South Korea's defeat to South Africa in the final group-stage match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America the previous day. "I don't know how many years our lifespans were extended by not watching the soccer match because we were holding the confirmation hearing," he said.
He continued, "There is a reality where promising soccer players, unless they come from certain universities, struggle to become national team members no matter how hard they try, and even when selected, they remain on the bench." He argued, "The soccer federation must be thoroughly cleaned out and its structure reformed."
In response, Han said, "The soccer federation issue is a matter that the entire nation is extremely angry about, even without me having to mention it," adding, "I think it will be resolved well."
Baek Hye-ryun, a Democratic Party lawmaker who chairs the special committee for the confirmation hearing, also said, "As a joke today, I heard someone say, 'Shouldn't we be holding a hearing for coach Hong Myung-bo rather than a confirmation hearing for nominee Han?'"
Park Sun-won, a Democratic Party lawmaker, called for leadership from Han by drawing a comparison to the national soccer team's head coach. "Since soccer has come up, coach Hiddink, who comes from a coaching background, would be better than Hong Myung-bo, who comes from a player background," Park said. "The president selected nominee Han not as an ordinary bureaucrat or professor, but to play a role like Hiddink."
He added, "Bureaucratic society is tight-knit and does not change easily. There is a culture of answering only as much as one knows and implementing only 30 percent of what is instructed. Please show leadership that utilizes every corner of the organization, like coach Hiddink."
Meanwhile, the South Korean national soccer team lost 0-1 to South Africa in the third and final Group A match of the North America World Cup, held at Estadio Monterrey in Guadalupe, Mexico, on June 25 (Korea time). The defeat has further intensified public criticism surrounding the national team.
