On 5 September 2014, Stielike was named manager of the South Korea national football team, signing a four-year contract running through the 2018 World Cup. In his first game in charge, South Korea defeated Paraguay 2–0 in a friendly match. His side began its 2015 AFC Asian Cup campaign with a 1–0 win over Oman, followed by victories with the same scoreline over Kuwait and hosts Australia. South Korea qualified to the knockout stage as group winners with nine points and faced Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals. Though the game remained scoreless for the first 90 minutes, two goals from Son Heung Min in extra time helped South Korea reach the semi-finals against Iraq. Beating Iran, 2–0, in the semifinal, South Korea ultimately finished as runner-up after losing to Australia 2–1 in the final. Despite the loss, the team restored its public image that had been damaged after the 2014 World Cup. The team received praise for having one of the strongest defenses in the tournament, conceding no goals until the final.