Robert Moreno's first message as South Korea's interim coach was simple: he wants to make fans happy. Given what they've been through in the past year, that's a low bar — and also an enormous one.
South Korea collapsed at the World Cup in North America, exiting in the group stage in a campaign that left supporters furious. Hong Myung-bo's resignation didn't calm things down. Police have since raided KFA headquarters over questions about how Hong was appointed in the first place. The federation has also had to apologise for allegations it provided sexual entertainment to foreign referees. This is the organisation Moreno has just signed up to represent.
Son back, but the real question is how he's used
Moreno has recalled Son Heung-min — now at LA FC in MLS — for four upcoming home friendlies against Ecuador, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Uzbekistan. That feels like the obvious call, but it matters more than it looks. Hong famously kept Son on the bench in the first half against South Africa in the decisive World Cup group match. It backfired spectacularly.
Moreno isn't wasting time signalling the change in approach. "We're all aware of Son's versatility," he said. "For me he can play in three positions." Whether that translates into actually getting the best out of a 32-year-old in the final stretch of his international career is where the real test begins. Son's involvement will also be a key variable for anyone watching South Korea's odds ahead of the Asian Cup in January.
Alongside Son, the squad includes Atletico Madrid's Lee Kang-in and Bayern Munich's Kim Min-jae — there's genuine quality here. The question has always been the coaching environment around them.
The AI story isn't going away
Moreno also had to address reports from his time at Russian club Sochi that he leaned heavily on ChatGPT — reportedly even using it to evaluate potential signings. He called it "completely false" and insisted the reporting was deliberately misleading. "Anyone who spends 10 minutes looking into it can see that everything has been taken out of context," he said.
Maybe. But Moreno left Sochi in September 2025 after a poor run of results, and the AI story had already gone viral. It follows him here whether he likes it or not. South Korean football fans, already raw after months of institutional embarrassment, will be watching closely for signs of competence — artificial or otherwise.
The KFA has said Moreno could remain in charge for the Asian Cup, "subject to an evaluation." Four friendlies to prove himself. The pressure is immediate.
