Hong Myung-bo's Estimated Salary Hits 3.8 Billion Won, Double Japan's Coach

The annual salary of Hong Myung-bo, head coach of South Korea's national football team, has been estimated at about 3.8 billion won, far exceeding previously reported levels, fueling growing controversy as the coach faces questions over his qualifications following recent poor performances. If accurate, the figure would be the highest among coaches in the history of South Korea's national football team.

Global pay analysis firm SalaryLeaks recently released estimated salary rankings for coaches of the 48 nations competing in this year's FIFA World Cup in North and Central America. According to the data, Hong's salary was estimated at 2.16 million euros (about 3.8 billion won).

This is nearly double the previously reported salary of around 2 billion won. If the estimate is accurate, Hong would be the highest-paid coach in the history of South Korea's national football team.

Jurgen Klinsmann, the former coach who previously led the national team, was reported to have earned about 2.2 million dollars (about 3.4 billion won).

Hong's estimated salary ranks 16th among coaches of the 48 nations. In Group A, where South Korea is placed, it was the second highest after Mexico's coach Javier Aguirre (2.5 million euros, about 4.4 billion won).

By contrast, South Africa's coach Hugo Broos, who is in the same group, was estimated at 900,000 euros (about 1.6 billion won), and the Czech Republic's coach Miroslav Koubek at 180,000 euros (about 300 million won).

Hajime Moriyasu, who leads Japan's national team, ranked 29th overall at 821,000 euros (about 1.4 billion won). That is less than half of Hong's estimated salary.

When Hong was appointed as national team coach in 2024, he said during a question-and-answer session at the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, "The most difficult time in my 40-year football career was after the 2014 Brazil World Cup." He added, "I thought the sense of responsibility and mission I had 10 years ago would never come back, but after the interview, I came out and decided to do my final service."

As criticism had already been raised at the time, with some asking "Where is there such a thing as a 2 billion won service?", the disclosure of this salary estimate appears to be reigniting the controversy.

Meanwhile, the South Korean national football team led by Hong lost 0-1 to South Africa in their final Group A match of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup, held the previous day at Estadio Monterrey in Mexico. With one win and two losses (three points), South Korea finished third in the group and now faces having to calculate the scenarios needed to advance to the round of 32.