[Exclusive] Hong Myung-bo on Player Exclusion Rumors: "Would I Drop Players Based on Personal Feelings in the World Cup?"

Former South Korean national football team coach Hong Myung-bo has strongly refuted claims that he excluded players based on personal animosity during the World Cup. Speaking to associates upon his return on May 30th, Hong questioned the logic of dropping a player for reasons other than personal feelings or tactical decisions in a World Cup match.

His comments came amid lingering speculation following the team's 1-0 loss to South Africa in their third group stage match of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The defeat resulted in South Korea's failure to advance to the round of 32. The decision to bench veteran stars Son Heung-min and Lee Jae-sung for this crucial game fueled rumors within the football community.

Some in the football world have suggested that the exclusion of these key players was a consequence of an "interview boycott" incident that occurred before the World Cup began. The controversy reportedly started on May 8th, during training in Guadalajara, Mexico, when some media personnel made mocking remarks about Son Heung-min's military exemption. A video containing these conversations was later uploaded to YouTube by a broadcasting company.

Three national team officials who accompanied the team to the North and Central American World Cup confirmed the ongoing discussions surrounding the player selections in conversations with this newspaper.

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Does it make sense to exclude a player from the World Cup squad for reasons other than personal feelings or tactical judgment?