A Silver Lining in a 34th-Place Disaster: Lee Han-beom, Kim Min-jae, Lee Ki-hyuk, and the Hope Proved by a Defense That Conceded Just Three Goals [2026 FIFA World Cup]

[Financial News] 34th out of 48 teams. That is the final result of the North American World Cup, a painful stain that will remain in Korean football history. Struggling to score, South Korea managed only two goals in three group-stage matches and was eventually eliminated.
Even so, amid the bleak ruins of disappointment, there was still one clear gain. South Korea managed to shake off, at least to some extent, its long-standing problem of defensive instability in major tournaments. Across three matches, it conceded only three goals. That matches the fewest goals allowed in the group stage at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, when Korea reached the semifinals, and at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, when it produced the Miracle of Kazan.

Even before the tournament, the back line was a source of concern. The veteran center backs were clearly aging, and with Cho Yu-min suddenly ruled out by injury, the burden on Kim Min-jae of FC Bayern Munich looked overwhelming. But once the tournament began, the picture changed completely. The three-man back line, rebuilt around 'Kim Min-jae and the boys,' stood firm throughout the competition.
The biggest revelation was right stopper Lee Han-beom of FC Midtjylland. He proved with his performances that reports from local media claiming he had caught the attention of scouts from Chelsea and Liverpool were not exaggerated. In the match against Mexico, he completely shut down Julián Quiñones, the prolific scorer who had beaten Cristiano Ronaldo to the top of the scoring charts in the Saudi league. With smart positioning and fearless duels for the ball, he cut off the opponent ace's dribbling runs and announced the arrival of a new defensive star.

Lee Ki-hyuk of Gangwon State, who played as the left stopper, also deserves mention. Initially viewed as a rotation option, he started every group-stage match with tireless work rate and the ability to cover multiple positions, becoming a reliable pillar of the three-man defense. Kim Min-jae, the defensive anchor who led the younger players, gave credit elsewhere, saying, "I did not carry them. I only pushed from behind. The two players did exactly what they were supposed to do."
Of course, the painful tasks ahead are clear. The midfield still lacks a settled partner for Hwang In-beom, and the wingbacks on both sides need more attacking power. The next manager will also have to find a true center-forward to replace Son Heung-min's role. In this tournament, Oh Hyeon-gyu and Cho Gue-sung still showed their limits.
But it is still too early to despair. Although South Korea failed to score in this tournament, it still has Son Heung-min, the captain who has not yet announced his retirement from the national team, and Lee Kang-in, who is in the prime of his career. Add to that Eom Ji-sung and Bae Jun-ho, who are raising their stock in England, and Oh Hyeon-gyu, who showed aggressive movement up front. There is no shortage of young and sharp attacking talent.

Even if Son Heung-min cannot produce the same level of attacking output four years from now, the firepower will still be formidable if he blends with talented young players. In the end, the key issue was the lack of a refined attacking system capable of tying all these resources together.
South Korea has found a dependable center-back duo to secure the back line, and it has also identified young players who can stir things up in attack. Even in the shock of a miserable 34th-place finish, Korean football can still look four years ahead. The future of the game here depends on this tiny spark of hope.
jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter