SEOUL: South Korea’s national soccer coach Jo Bonfrere, who led the squad to a spot in next year’s World Cup, has resigned amid criticism for the team’s poor performance in recent matches. Korea Football Association officials said on Tuesday that Bonfrere offered to quit and that the Dutchman’s resignation was accepted. He coached the team since June last year. South Korea, which became the first team from Asia to reach the World Cup semi-finals during the 2002 event it co-hosted with Japan, has already qualified for the 2006 World Cup.