The Korea Football Association (KFA) said on Tuesday it has picked Hwang Sun-hong, coach of the under-23 team, as temporary head coach of the national side to prepare for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The National Team Committee, a KFA advisory body, had been looking for a replacement after sacking Juergen Klinsmann in the wake of the national side’s semi-final exit at the Asian Cup and amid criticism of his leadership.

Hwang, 55, steered the under-23 national team to gold in the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, and was a member of the 2002 World Cup squad that reached the semi-finals on home soil under Dutch coach Guus Hiddink.

Hwang was the ‘No. 1 choice’ given his experience.

He will resume his role with the under-23 team after leading South Korea’s national side through two 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Thailand in March, said Jung
Hae-sung, who heads the committee.

“Our committee, in the meantime, will hold in-depth discussions to appoint a full-time coach, reviewing what kind of football we want to pursue and which style of the coach we need,” Jung told a briefing.

The KFA dismissed Klinsmann following South Korea’s stumble at the semi-final stage at the Asian Cup which extended their 64-year wait for a third title.

Hwang will double as coach of the national team and also prepare the under-23 squad for the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics, starting in April in Qatar.