Lee Chun-soo blasts Hong Myung-bo: 'This is a sign from God to change everything'

Former South Korea international Lee Chun-soo said the national team's group-stage elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America was "a sign from God to change everything."

In a video titled "I have to say what needs to be said," posted Sunday to his YouTube channel "Lee Chun-soo," Lee vented his frustration. He said the team had produced "the worst performances with the best players" and called the result unacceptable after a four-year wait for the tournament.

Lee was visibly indignant throughout the video. "Dropping out in the group stage is a sign from God that change is needed," he said. "I thought we would make it through, and I still cannot believe it. I was so annoyed at myself for rooting for Uzbekistan."

He then turned his fire on coach Hong Myung-bo directly. "This is what I really cannot stand about Myung-bo," Lee said. "He has had two World Cup chances. Honestly, as a football person, I felt a lot of pressure too. He said he was a sacrificial offering for that one win against Algeria, and that the analysis was not thorough enough back then — but frankly, that excuse does not fly in this day and age."

Lee also criticized the coaching staff's handling of conditions in Monterrey, a city at roughly 500 meters above sea level where South Korea played in intense heat. "The altitude issue had been raised long before," he said. "You do not arrive on Sunday and play on Monday. When you go from air conditioning into the sun, you feel dizzy — after five minutes of running you can barely breathe, and you just watch the opposing player go right past you. What are all those staff members out there for, spending all that money? Why could they not manage the players' condition? They knew the schedule — why was conditioning not taken care of?"

He also questioned the team's shape during matches. "Kang-in had the ball, and six of our players were just lined up in a row, standing still," Lee said. "Either their bodies were not right, or they had been told not to push forward. I have never been asked by a foreign journalist whether our players had food poisoning — but apparently that question came up."

On Hong's insistence on a three-back formation, Lee said: "He said in interviews he would try a four-back variation. Was that just something he said to cover himself, with nothing actually prepared — so he fell back on three-back? Even when the situation called for attacking play or a tactical change, was he not just swapping formations without any real adjustment?"

Lee also called for Hong's resignation. "He should have stepped down when we lost to South Africa," he said. "Even when the odds of advancing were supposedly over 80 percent, I could already tell nothing much would change in the next game. If you are a sunbae in Korean football and you genuinely care about it, you should resign."

"He said results are the manager's responsibility, so he needs to own that," Lee continued. "If he clings to the position, it will come down to money. Right now he is becoming the person who ruined Korean football. No one has been given as many chances as he has. He needs to step down quickly and let the next coach build from scratch — do not hand over a disaster."

The day after the video was posted, Hong resigned Monday (Korean Standard Time), saying, "I sincerely apologize to the people of Korea" and "I am stepping down from my position as head coach of the national team."

Hong announced his resignation at a press conference at Chivas Valle Verde in Zapopan, Mexico, the team's base camp training facility.

"I cannot say every decision I made was always right," Hong said. "But the standard behind every decision I made was always Korean football."

"The position of head coach demands full accountability before results — no explanation is sufficient," he added. "I was unable to deliver the outcome the Korean people hoped for at this World Cup. All responsibility for that lies with me, the manager."

"I am laying down the reins, but I am not laying down my heart for Korean football," he said in closing. "I sincerely hope our national team will grow into a side that once again earns the trust and love of the Korean people."

Hong did not take questions from reporters and read only a prepared statement. His departure from the venue also drew criticism after he was seen walking away with his hands in his pockets.