Lee Jae-myung Calls World Cup Exit a Failure of Organization and Personnel

President Lee Jae-myung has attributed the South Korean national football team's exit from the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup to a "failure of organization and personnel," pledging to expedite reforms in sports administration. Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young also announced plans to form an expert committee to thoroughly investigate the reasons behind the team's failure and to revamp football administration overall.

In a statement on social media, President Lee expressed his disappointment, saying, "Minister Choi and the relevant officials have worked hard. As a former honorary president of a professional football club and a passionate supporter, I feel not just surprised but also bewildered by the unexpected outcome."

He emphasized, "This once again proves that personnel decisions are crucial. If incompetent individuals are appointed as leaders based on favoritism rather than ability, the results will be predictable."

Lee further noted that the ability to distinguish between public and private interests is hindered by a lack of oversight and accountability for those in power. He stressed the importance of democratic structures, control, and alignment of authority and responsibility within all organizations.

The president directed the Korea Sports Council and the Korea Football Association to implement a direct election system involving all relevant sports personnel, stating that he believes this is already being carried out. He highlighted the need to establish a monitoring and accountability system to enhance transparency, fairness, and objectivity in operations, ensuring that actions and outcomes are met with corresponding responsibilities.

He remarked that the failure to qualify for the World Cup appears to stem from these issues and instructed the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to carefully analyze the situation and causes, as well as to develop measures to prevent recurrence and improve the system.

"I sincerely apologize for the deep disappointment this has caused the public," he added, pledging to swiftly pursue reforms in sports administration to prevent such incidents from happening again.

Minister Choi also addressed the situation on social media, stating, "The goal of reaching the Round of 32 has been thwarted. We watched in silence, but the result was an exit in the group stage. South Korean football, now in a quagmire, must gather itself and start anew from the ground up."

He emphasized the need to identify where things began to go wrong and what has been holding the team back, stating, "It is time to consolidate the discussions we have had and create fundamental alternatives. Until the day the public's support is restored, the government will do everything it can to assist."