Seoul: The national football governing body began accepting applications for the vacant men's national team head coaching position Thursday. According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korea Football Association (KFA) announced that the deadline for application submissions is 5 p.m. on Aug. 9, South Korean time, and emphasized that all applications must be sent via email to [email protected].

Following a recent board of directors meeting, the KFA decided to recruit a temporary head coach and his staff through an open recruitment process. This interim coaching staff will manage the team during the upcoming FIFA international match windows scheduled from Sept. 21 to Oct. 6, and from Nov. 9 to 17, with each team allowed a maximum of four matches in the first window and two in the second. The contract for the new coaching staff will extend until Nov. 27, with a goal to finalize the recruitment process by the end of August.

Applications should be submitted as a team, consisting of five to seven members. South Korean candidates must possess a Pro License issued by the Asian Football Confederation and a Class 2 Professional Sports Instructor Certificate. Foreign applicants are required to hold a Pro License from their respective continental governing body.

The KFA has outlined that at least two finalist teams will proceed to the final interview phase, set for Aug. 20 and 21. The evaluation of applications and interviews will be managed by a selection committee comprising experts in coaching, national team operations, and related fields. This open recruitment process, while previously used for the men's under-20 and under-23 national teams, is unprecedented for the senior national squad. The KFA acknowledged potential concerns about this approach and committed to evaluating its advantages and disadvantages.

The vacancy for the top coaching position arose following the resignation of Hong Myung-bo in late June, who stepped down after South Korea's elimination from the group stage at the FIFA World Cup.