Coach Choi Kang-hee speaks at a news conference in this undated file picture released by Yonhap in Seoul, Dec 21, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

SEOUL - South Korea has named Choi Kang-hee, head coach of K-League champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, as national team coach, the Korea Football Association (KFA) said Wednesday.

After a meeting of its technical committee earlier in the day, the KFA announced that Choi would replace Cho Kwang-rae, who was fired earlier this month after the country's 2-1 defeat to Lebanon in a World Cup qualifier last month.

With the loss, South Korea's national team faces the risk of elimination from World Cup qualification if they lose to Kuwait in their final game in February.

"We looked at several options", Hwangbo Kwan, head of the KFA's technical committee, told a press conference. "But since the Kuwait match is only three months away we had to pick Choi Kang-Hee who can adapt to the current team right away."  

Choi led his team Jeonbuk to the 2006 Asian Champions League title and the K-League championships in 2009 and 2011.

Coach Choi Kang-hee attends a training session in this undated file picture released by Yonhap in Seoul, Dec 21, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]