South Korean President Demands Government Inquiry After World Cup Exit

South Korea's national football team was eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup after finishing third in their group, ending their tournament run in the group stage. Despite opening with a victory, the team lost twice, sparking widespread controversy and dissatisfaction across the country. The situation escalated to the highest levels of government, with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung openly criticizing the decision to appoint head coach Hwang Ui-jo and calling for a government-led investigation into the team's failure.

President Lee expressed his surprise and confusion over the outcome, emphasizing the significant public investment and support for the World Cup participation. He urged the ministers of culture, sports, and tourism to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the team's performance, analyze the causes, and implement measures to prevent a recurrence. Lee also announced plans to advance reforms in sports management to ensure such an event does not happen again.

The president's statements were made public on his X (formerly Twitter) account, reflecting the national frustration with the team's early exit and signaling a push for accountability and structural changes in South Korean sports administration.