SEOUL — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung condemned the country's premature World Cup exit on Sunday, pointing the finger at "incompetent people" and apologising to the nation.
South Korea's turbulent campaign in North America ended at the group phase and could lead to the international retirement of captain Son Heung-min.
After three days of anxious waiting to see if they would squeeze into the knockout rounds as one of the eight third-placed finishers, results went against South Korea to send them home.
Deeply unpopular coach Hong Myung-bo is sure to be fired or will quit, and the nation's president promised wholesale reform.
"When loyalty and factionalism are valued over competence, and incompetent people are appointed to leadership positions, the outcome is all but inevitable," Lee said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
"I offer my deepest apologies to the public for the profound disappointment caused by this unacceptable outcome.
"We will move swiftly to reform sports administration to ensure that nothing like this happens again," he added, without elaborating.
South Korea had the last 32 at the World Cup within grasp only to suffer a shock 1-0 loss to lower-ranked South Africa.
The much-maligned coach Hong caused a surprise when he dropped the attacking talisman Son to the bench in a gamble that backfired.
They finished third in Group A behind the co-hosts Mexico and South Africa, having also lost 1-0 to Mexico.
They beat the Czech Republic 2-1 to start their World Cup, but that was as good as it got for Hong and the fading Son.
The criticism back home was immediately fierce, with Hong firmly in the firing line.
Yonhap News Agency called South Korea's exit "dismal".
"The national team suffered the humiliation of a 2026 World Cup group-stage exit after three days of agonising hope," Yonhap said.
South Korea's tournament was overshadowed by a row between the squad and local media, while a drone also buzzed a crucial training session before the Mexico defeat.
Former Tottenham attacker Son, who now plays for Los Angeles FC, has hinted in the past at international retirement.
The daily Sports Chosun expects that to be it now for the player who has carried South Korea so often and scored 56 goals for his country.
"Son Heung-min's final World Cup ends in heartbreak," a headline said.
He turns 34 next month.
