"To ensure thorough preparations for the World Cup, we'll hire a new technical coach and put together the Technical Study Group," Kim said. "The goal is to complete this task before March, when the national team plays friendly matches before the World Cup."

According to Kim, the new technical assistant will handle advance scouting on South Korea's group stage opponents at the World Cup -- Germany, Mexico and Sweden. Kim added he was acting on Shin's request for a new position.

The TSG will be one of subcommittees under Kim's committee.

"The TSG will analyze the national team's performance and share whatever information is necessary with the national team bench and our committee," Kim said. "We may be able to use some of that information when hiring new coaches in the future."

Kim added there will be other subcommittees on scouting and sports science.

Kim had a quiet playing career but made a name for himself as a coach. He worked with clubs in Hong Kong and South Korea, and is best known for coaching Hong Kong's national team to the East Asian Football Championship in 2010.

Kim had two different stints with Hong Kong, from 2009 to 2010 and again from 2012 to 2017. He's the all-time leader among all Hong Kong bench bosses with 58 matches coached and 21 victories.

Kim said when selecting national team coaches down the road, playing resume won't be considered.

"It doesn't matter how good of a player you were, or which teams you coached before," he said. "I'll consider leadership skills and management skills, and apply objective standards to name our coaches." (Yonhap)