Controversy Surrounding the Selection of South Korea’s New National Team Coach

A committee of 11 members was tasked with selecting a new coach for the national team after Jurgen Klinsmann’s dismissal following the Asian Cup failure. Three meetings were held in February to finalize the decision.

Initially, the committee faced backlash for considering appointing a coach from a K-League 1 club as the long-term manager. This decision was seen as potentially disruptive to the league, which had just completed preparations for the new season.

In a subsequent meeting, the committee shifted direction and opted for an interim coach for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in March. However, Chairman Chung Hae-seong’s unilateral declaration of Hwang Sun-hong as the interim manager sparked disagreement among committee members.

Chung defended his choice of Hwang, stating that the coach had accepted the offer quickly. Hwang, along with Park Hang-seo and Choi Yong-soo, were top candidates for the position. Park and Choi met the criteria of not currently coaching any team, while Hwang met the requirement of being under the management of the Korea Football Association (KFA).

Chung and Park had previously worked together as assistants to coach Guus Hiddink during the 2002 World Cup, where South Korea reached the semifinals. However, their relationship reportedly soured during their time in Vietnam, where they pursued different coaching opportunities.

Despite concerns raised by the media regarding Hwang’s dual role coaching both the national and U23 teams, Chairman Chung defended the decision. He emphasized that Hwang’s close relationship with key players like Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in made him a suitable choice for the position.

While there is speculation about the potential challenges Hwang may face, including the risk of failing to lead the national team to victory or missing out on Olympic qualification with the U23 team, many support the KFA’s decision.

TV channel KBS highlighted Hwang’s familiarity with the players and his ability to manage the teams effectively without overlap. Chairman Chung expressed his willingness to take full responsibility for the outcome, likening it to a coach being ready to resign if results are unsatisfactory.

Ultimately, the appointment of Hwang as the interim manager has generated mixed reactions from the public and media, with the focus now on the upcoming World Cup qualifiers and the U23 Asian Cup in Qatar.