Hong Myung-bo receives death threats after South Korea’s World Cup exit

Hong Myung-bo, the man who once captained South Korea’s legendary 2002 World Cup run, is now receiving death threats for failing to replicate that magic as head coach. The 2026 World Cup ended early for the Taegeuk Warriors, and the fallout has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Hong resigned on June 28, 2026, just days after South Korea was eliminated in the group stage. What followed was a scene that looked less like a sports homecoming and more like a political crisis: over 160 police officers deployed to Incheon Airport, angry fans chanting “get out,” and the President of South Korea personally ordering an investigation into what went wrong.

A group stage collapse

South Korea finished third in Group A. That’s a polite way of saying they were knocked out with one win and two losses.

The lone bright spot was a 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic. But losses to both Mexico and South Africa sealed the team’s fate, sending them home before the knockout rounds even began.

Hong had actually entered the tournament with credentials that looked solid on paper. He guided South Korea through their qualifying campaign undefeated, a run that had fans cautiously optimistic heading into the tournament. Pre-tournament performances had raised concerns about Hong’s tactical approach, suggesting that the qualifying run may have papered over deeper structural issues.

When football becomes a state matter

President Lee Jae Myung publicly expressed confusion about the team’s performance. He then initiated a government-led inquiry into the national team’s showing.

The death threats against Hong prompted local police to open a formal investigation. Online vitriol escalated to the point where authorities deemed it necessary to station riot police at Incheon Airport ahead of the team’s return on June 30.

When the squad arrived, fans confronted them directly, chanting and unfurling critical banners. The 160-plus officers present kept the situation from boiling over.

Hong’s resignation, announced before the team even touched down, did little to soften the reception.

The weight of 2002

Hong Myung-bo captained the 2002 squad that stunned the world by reaching the World Cup semifinals, a run that remains the high-water mark for Asian football in the tournament’s history.

That legacy made him a natural choice to lead the national team into the 2026 cycle.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.