Hong Myung-bo asks for support as he flies to Europe to recruit coaches

New Korean national team manager Hong Myung-bo said Monday he understands that people are concerned about him taking the role, but asks fans to support him as he attempts the “final challenge” of his life.

Korean national team manager Hong Myung-bo speaks during a press conference at Incheon International Airport in Incheon on Monday. [YONHAP]

New Korean national team manager Hong Myung-bo said Monday he understands that people are concerned about him taking the role, but asks fans to support him as he attempts the “final challenge” of his life.

“As I said before, I am thinking about how to make the Korean national team a strong and good team,” Hong, 55, said in a press conference at Incheon International Airport on Monday ahead of his departure to Europe where he will interview assistant coaches. “I fully understand people’s concerns, but I would be thankful if they support this final challenge of my life.”

Hong's comments echo his first statement on July 10 after being appointed as permanent national team boss a few days earlier, when he referred to the job as the "final challenge of my football career.”

The appointment was controversial, not only because it meant Hong left K League 1 team Ulsan HD in the middle of the 2024 campaign or because he took the role after months of denying any interest, but also because KFA Technical Director Lee Lim-saeng appeared to bypass the national team committee and unilaterally make the appointment on his own.

The KFA formed the selection committee in February after sacking Jurgen Klinsmann in search of a new manager, but the committee talks with all possible candidates fell through, leaving Lee to persuade Hong to take the job.

The appointment marks his second spell as national team manager after one year at the helm from 2013 to 2014, during which he failed to secure a single win and crashed out of the 2014 World Cup.

Hong has yet to select his coaching staff, but Lee said during a press conference on July 8 that the KFA will bring in European assistant coaches.

“The most important thing about modern football is dividing the work of the coaching staff, and my job is to break down the work and bring expertise and the best out of them,” Hong said Monday. “Finally, I think that not just appointing foreign coaches, but how I use them, is what matters.”

Hong said that he expects his trip to be around a week, but his return date has not been fixed and the trip may last longer if he meets Korean players in Europe.

National team regular picks in Europe like Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur and Kim Min-jae of Bayern Munich are still in Europe this week for preseason action, preceded by a preseason tour in Asia for both teams including the Coupang Play Series — an exhibition series set to take place in Seoul later this summer.

“I will first go to Spain and Portugal, I am still examining [who to pick],” Hong said. “I am thinking about [selecting] Korean coaching staff once I return to Korea, and I am in talks with the KFA.

“The meeting schedule has been fixed, and I hope you wish me luck in recruiting a good coach.”

He did not say who he will meet. The veteran manager still has some time to prepare for his first test in the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers starting in September.

Korea need to secure a runner-up finish or higher in Group B of the third round in order to book a direct ticket to the World Cup.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]