Korea are looking for an overseas coach for Park Tae-hwan following the Olympic champion's disappointing run at the world championships in July.

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The 2007 champion Park failed to reach the 400 metres freestyle final at the worlds in Rome after he gave South Korea their first Olympic swimming gold medal in Beijing last year.

"We... plan to search for a coach from swimming powerhouses such as Australia, the United States and Germany," Korea Swimming Federation executive director Jung Il-chung told the Korea Times newspaper.

"Although several non-Korean coaches have been brought to Korea in diving, water polo and synchronised swimming, it is the first time that a foreign coach will be hired for swimming.

"The new instructor will focus on improving Park's turn and underwater swimming skills, seen as his weaknesses," he added.

The foreign coach will join the coaching staff headed by Roh Min-sang, the paper said.

Called the 'Marine Boy', 19-year-old Park became an instant celebrity in his homeland after he won the 400m freestyle gold and the 200m freestyle silver behind Michael Phelps in Beijing.