Former National Team Coach Hong Myung-bo: "I Will Attend the Hearing"

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Former national soccer team head coach Hong Myung-bo has announced that he will attend the upcoming hearing.

On July 9, Hong released a statement titled "To the People of the Republic of Korea," in which he said, "I sincerely apologize to everyone who has loved and supported Korean football," and added, "I failed to meet your expectations and support, and caused disappointment and pain to many people."

He went on to state, "If a hearing is held, I believe that it will be an opportunity to explain the World Cup results to the public. In that case, I, as the head coach, am the one who should stand before you," thereby expressing his intent to attend.

Hong Myung-bo, the head coach of the national soccer team, is returning home through Incheon Airport after failing to advance to the round of 32 in the North and Central America World Cup. Yonhap News

The National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee passed a resolution on the morning of July 9 to hold a hearing regarding pending issues related to the Korea Football Association, deciding to convene the hearing on July 22. Hong, who failed to advance past the group stage in the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup, was designated as a witness.

In addition to Hong, thirteen others were designated as witnesses: former president Chung Mong-gyu, former technical director Lee Lim-saeng (currently technical director at Cambodia's Nagaworld), vice president Lee Yongsoo, former national team power reinforcement chairman Jung Haeseong, executive director Kim Seunghee, former standing vice president Kim Jungbae, former vice president Choi Youngil, vice president Kim Byungji, former national team coach Kim Jingyu, former vice president Han Junhee, manager Jeon Hanjin, and former vice president Park Hangseo. Of these, four currently hold office: vice president Lee Yongsoo, executive director Kim Seunghee, vice president Kim Byungji, and manager Jeon Hanjin.

Hong stated, "The responsibility for the results lies entirely with me as head coach," emphasizing, "Therefore, if a hearing is held, I will fully shoulder the responsibility as head coach until the end." He added, "I will share everything I know with the public as it is, and I will not avoid any questions."

On June 29, the day after Korea was eliminated from the World Cup group stage, Hong announced his resignation and expressed his apologies in Mexico. He did not take questions and remained silent afterwards. Upon his return to Korea, he left for Los Angeles, United States, two days later, which sparked controversy over whether he was trying to escape public scrutiny.

He explained the background to his statement by saying, "As time passed, unverified and inaccurate information began to spread as if it were fact, and I saw that even players and staff who devoted themselves to the team became the subject of misunderstanding and speculation. This made me reconsider whether remaining silent was the right thing to do."

Regarding the controversy over his departure, he clarified, "Staying in the United States was not a choice to ignore or avoid the consequences," and continued, "At that time, there were threats and concerns for the safety of myself and my family, and as the head of a household, I had to protect my family."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.