Lee Im-saeng spotted smiling at soccer school event on day Hong Myung-bo resigned

With former South Korea national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo stepping down after the team's group-stage elimination at the 2026 North America World Cup, attention has turned to Lee Im-saeng, the former Korea Football Association technical director who spearheaded Hong's appointment.

Photos published Tuesday showed Lee, who now serves as a board member of the Cha Bum-kun Football School, attending a recent event held by the academy.

The football school posted several photos on social media Monday, writing: "We treated our staff to a wonderful hotel lunch as a show of gratitude and encouragement ahead of the hot summer. We thank the teachers who care for and guide our more than 1,500 members and their families with love."

Lee appeared in one of the group photos, seated in the front row with a smile.

The event took place on the same day Hong announced his resignation following South Korea's poor showing at the 2026 North America World Cup.

Lee was the central figure behind Hong's appointment in June 2024, alongside then-national team performance enhancement committee chair Jeong Hae-seong. When Jeong abruptly resigned, Lee took over the process and ultimately recommended Hong for the position. The appointment drew controversy after it emerged that proper procedures had not been followed and that the interview process had been conducted in an opaque and unfair manner.

Foreign coaching candidates — including Jesse Marsch, now head coach of Canada, and Gus Poyet, former head coach of Jeonbuk Hyundai — went through formal interview procedures, while Hong reportedly received no such interview. Instead, Lee approached Hong directly and offered him the position.

The episode sparked a debate over procedural legitimacy, as the technical director does not hold the authority to recommend a head coach. Lee, however, defended the process at a press conference, insisting Hong was the right person for the job.

The controversy ultimately led to KFA President Chung Mong-gyu, Hong and other senior KFA officials appearing before the National Assembly to address the matter. The KFA was also included among the targets of a Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism audit.

Despite the backlash, Lee stood by his decision. "Hong is the right person to lead Korean football through this crisis," he said. "You are welcome to criticize my limited knowledge and experience. But I have no regrets about this decision."

Meanwhile, calls for accountability within the KFA have grown louder since Hong's resignation. Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young announced on social media that the ministry would conduct a special audit of the KFA.