Coach Park Hang Seo is temporarily postponing his coaching duties at Kanchanaburi to focus on the 2026 World Cup with the South Korean national team.
Despite having signed a two-year contract with a Thai club, coach Park Hang Seo will prioritize his role as Vice President of the KFA to support his home country's national team at the biggest football event on the planet.
Coach Park Hang Seo has officially signed a two-year contract with Kanchanaburi FC in Thailand. However, the former Vietnam national team coach's journey to conquer the Thai League will have to be postponed so that he can fulfill his responsibilities in his homeland ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Prioritizing national objectives at the 2026 World Cup.
According to OSEN and Yonhap, Park Hang Seo currently holds a significant role at the Korea Football Association (KFA). As the newly appointed Vice President of the KFA, effective April 2025, the 68-year-old strategist is in charge of the national team support team.
This specialized agency was established to optimize preparations for the 2026 World Cup campaign to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. According to the plan, on May 29th, Mr. Park, along with his team of technical and logistical experts, will travel to the United States to work alongside Coach Hong Myung-bo and his team. This is the main reason why he has not yet been able to travel to Thailand to take over the coaching position in Kanchanaburi as initially planned.
The Kanchanaburi Reconstruction Challenge and the South Korean Football Philosophy
After concluding his journey with the South Korean national team at the World Cup, Park Hang Seo officially began his duties in Thai League 1. The responsibility placed upon him at Kanchanaburi is immense, as the team is currently at the bottom of the league table for the 2025-2026 season. The ultimate goal of the management is to revive the team's morale and secure promotion as soon as possible.
Notably, this marks the first time a coach with a purely Korean football philosophy has accepted the challenge of the Thai football environment – a place considered a harsh ground for South Korean coaches. Park is expected to implement a professional management system including:
- Integrating scientific nutrition and food management practices.
- Implement intensive fitness enhancement programs.
- Utilize video analysis and operational systems based on real-world data.
Ambition to conquer at age 68
Since leaving Vietnamese football in January 2023, Park Hang Seo has spent over three years focusing on youth development projects and his advisory role at Bac Ninh FC. His decision to return to the coaching bench has generated significant interest from the regional public.
Sharing his thoughts on the decision to choose Kanchanaburi, Mr. Park affirmed that it was an "unfinished challenge" that he wanted to conquer. The sincerity and long-term vision of the Thai team were key factors in rekindling his passion for football. For this strategist, age is not a barrier but a foundation of experience to prove the value of Korean football philosophy in Southeast Asia.
