The South Korean national football team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, suffered an unexpected defeat against South Africa, leaving entertainment stars in shock and disappointment.

South Korea lost 0-1 to South Africa in the third match of Group A at the 2026 FIFA World Cup held at Monterrey Stadium in Nuevo León, Mexico, on June 25 (KST). As a result, the team's advancement to the Round of 32 now depends on the outcomes of matches in other groups.

Actor Han Jung-soo posted on his social media, "They showed the worst performance in history with the best players. With no tactics, incomprehensible player selection, and a tendency to blame the players until the end, he truly showed what the worst leader looks like."

He continued to target coach Hong, writing, "I have never seen such a terrible coach in history. Is disciplinary action not possible?" He added, "His salary should be confiscated. It seems he clung to his position solely for the money. I hate this even more than politics. This is the worst World Cup match."

With this result, the South Korean national team finished third in the group with one win and two losses, making their advancement to the Round of 32 uncertain. After the group stage matches for the remaining nine groups conclude, the team must rank among the top eight third-place teams to qualify for the Round of 32.

Actor Han Jung-soo was not the only one angered by the match. Broadcaster and travel creator Kwak Tube (Kwak Joon-bin), who watched the game in person in Mexico, shared the despondent atmosphere at the stadium, writing, "I returned to Mexico from Korea yesterday. It's very disappointing... I'm on my way back after watching the match."

Broadcaster Lee Sang-min also offered comfort to disappointed fans. He expressed his feelings, saying, "Even I, who am really bad at football, found today's match difficult to watch, so I can only imagine how you all must feel," adding, "My heart is very heavy."

(Reported by Kang Kyung-yoon | SBS Entertainment News)