Republic of Korea – Coach Cha Bum returns to Seoul

Today, Sunday 21 June (14h25), the head of the Korean delegation, Cho Chungyun, announced the dismissal of CHA Bum Kun, the REPUBLIC OF KOREA coach (Group E). This decision was brought upon by the Korean team’s results.

He specified that they had “reached a limit beyond which they could not continue without holding someone accountable”. The technical advisors of the team all turned in their resignations as well, but for the moment these will not be accepted, in order to avoid jeopardising the last match.

CHA Bum Kun’s duties will be taken over by his assistant coach, former player Kim Pyung Seok, who participated in the World Cup in Mexico in 1986. He will be backed by technical advisors (former players), for the match of Thursday 25 June against BELGIUM.

Early this afternoon Mr. CHA announced the board’s decision to the players and wished them good luck for the remaining match.

In the brief statement he made following this announcement, he stated that:

– he was assuming responsibility and that he would bow to the board’s decision

-.he wished good luck to the team for their match against BELGIUM

– he was returning to Korea today, so that the players could adapt to their new coaching team

– he was preparing for the future and for other competitions.