Hong Myung-bo, former coach of South Korea, arrived at Incheon International Airport under the protection of more than a hundred security agents, after their elimination from the 2026 World Cup.
According to the South Korean newspaper The Korea Herald, Hong Myung-bo received death threats on an internet chat forum, following boos and protests from fans, which marked the farewell of the Asian team at the FIFA World Cup.
The pressure from Korean public opinion was great, and Hong resigned from his position last Sunday (28).
Also according to the newspaper, the threat to the former coach and former player who mobilized the police apparatus, posted on an online forum, said: “I will go to Incheon Airport on the day Hong returns and kill him”, considered a real sign of danger.
South Korea debuted with a 2-1 victory against the Czech Republic, but lost to Mexico and South Africa 1-0. The three points and the combination of results were not enough to advance to the knockout stages.
Hong and eight athletes from the national team — including Kim Min-jae, from Bayern Munich; Hwang Hee-chan, from Wolverhampton; and Lee Kang-in, from Paris Saint-Germain—arrive this Tuesday morning (30), as reported by the KFA (Korean Football Association).
Son Heung-min, who plays for Los Angeles FC, and the other players are expected to return on Wednesday (1st), at different times.
VOLTAGE ESCALATION
South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung publicly criticized Hong’s work after his elimination at the World Cup. The head of state’s speeches were received by the population with indignation. The agent called the former coach “incompetent”.
“I feel not only confusion but also perplexity at this unexpected result […] If you select an incompetent person as commander, the result is obvious,” he wrote.
The former coach announced his departure from command of South Korea at the team’s training center in Zapopan, Mexico, on Sunday. Subsequently, the delegation returned to the country amid hostilities.
In April this year, a Seoul court ruled that Hong’s appointment was based on flawed procedures — the hiring of the former coach is still being investigated. The case generated outrage among fans who protested with images of the character Pinocchio, alluding to alleged lies.
