The candidates for the next manager of the South Korean men's national football team have been narrowed down to four or five people, and negotiations have already started.

Lee Yong-soo, the chief of the Korea Football Association (KFA) technical board, told reporters at the National Football Center in Paju on Wednesday that the list of candidates has been shortened to four to five. He promised to have a new manager selected ahead of a friendly match scheduled in October.

Lee also denied the claim by Jorge Luis Pinto, the former manager of Costa Rica, who said that he was asked to coach South Korea. Lee said the KFA has never contacted Pinto.

Lee added that there aren't as many managers as he would hope who hold the Korea job in high regard, hinting the selection process would be difficult.

The search for a new manager began in early July after Hong Myung-bo stepped down to take responsibility for Team Korea's poor performance in the Brazil World Cup.