Lee Min-seong, the coach of the South Korean U-23 national football team, has come under partially distrustful judgment following the team's disappointing performance in the recent U-23 Asian Cup, where they lost to Japan in the semifinals and Vietnam in the third-place match. In response to these results, the Korea Football Association has decided to allow him to coach just until the upcoming 2026 Asian Games in Aichi and Nagoya. Plans are being made to expedite the appointment of a new coach for the Olympic team, which adds to the pressure on Lee as he prepares for these significant tournaments.

The Football Association's decision is also influenced by structural changes in the tournaments, including the AFC's shift to a four-year cycle for the U-23 Asian Cup and the anticipation that Olympic soccer qualifiers for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics could be moved forward by a collaboration between the IOC and FIFA. Given these developments, the association deems it challenging for Lee to adequately prepare both the Asian Games and the Olympics concurrently, which has warranted this partial distrust.

This shift in leadership is seen as a necessary action from the Football Association, particularly as many fans and analysts expected a more competitive showing from the team in the Asian Cup. A thorough review by the Strategic Strengthening Committee noted that the team's performance did not meet the fans' expectations, indicating a need for accountability within the coaching staff. Moving forward, the association's next steps will be closely watched by fans eager for improvement in the national team's international standing.