'Korean soccer is dead': Fans' fury greets Hong Myung-bo's team; Coach Hong remains 'silent' [Incheon Airport scene]

*This content was translated by AI.

The South Korean national soccer team, which was eliminated in the group stage of the 2026 FIFA North, Central America, and Caribbean World Cup, has returned to the country. Fans who came to the airport held banners criticizing Coach Hong Myung-bo and greeted the Koo Ho-ro (CEO) team, while Coach Hong Myung-bo quickly exited the airport without any particular reaction or interview.

Coach Hong Myung-bo and some members of the national team returned through Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport around 3:50 a.m. on the 30th. Along with Coach Hong, eight players including Cho Hyun-woo (Ulsan HD), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), and Seol Young-woo (Crvena Zvezda), as well as Park Hang-seo, head of the World Cup support team and vice president of the Korea Football Association (KFA), made the return journey. KFA Vice President Lee Yong-soo and others saw off the national team at the airport.

Normally, the homecoming ceremony for the Ma Chin (CEO) team is held at the airport after a World Cup, but this did not take place today. This marks the first time since the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup that the national team has returned without a separate event. While the team's staggered arrival contributed, the fallout from Coach Hong Myung-bo's poor performance in this North, Central America, and Caribbean World Cup was the greater factor. Coach Hong Myung-bo had previously received the so-called 'yeot-se-rye' (a form of public humiliation involving throwing sticky rice cakes) during a homecoming event at the 2014 Brazil World Cup.

Although there was no separate homecoming event, many fans gathered despite the early hour to visit the return scene. They held banners reading 'Korean soccer is dead,' 'Stupid MB (Myung-bo), Ending Run MK (Mong-gyu),' and 'Hong Myung-bo, spit out the money and leave! Completely dissolve the KFA.' Even before the national team appeared in the arrival hall, various slogans such as 'Hong Myung-bo, get out!' were shouted. To prepare for any potential safety issues, a large number of security personnel, including police, were deployed. Coach Hong Myung-bo and the national team were strictly controlled to pass through the departure gate and move immediately to vehicles parked outside.

Around 3:30 a.m., earlier than scheduled, KFA Vice President Park Hang-seo, Cho Hyun-woo, Coach Hong Myung-bo, and others appeared in the arrival hall in turn. Fans poured out fierce criticism, and sharp banners were unfurled simultaneously. Amidst a barrage of shouts from the fans, the national team, including Coach Hong Myung-bo, quickly exited the airport without any particular response. Some fans even ran outside the airport to raise their voices.

Fans expressed intense anger toward Coach Hong Myung-bo and the player squad, who were waiting on buses bound for the national team. However, Coach Hong Myung-bo ultimately left the airport without any response, let alone an interview. Even after Coach Hong Myung-bo and others had departed, some fans remained behind, trying to vent their anger.

Coach Hong Myung-bo had already declared his resignation from the national team while in Mexico, taking responsibility for the poor performance in the North, Central America, and Caribbean World Cup. President Jeong Mong-gyu of the Han Chuk-gu-hyeop (Chairman) arrived late after all players had exited the airport and subsequently faced fierce criticism from fans. In addition to the players who returned today, other players are scheduled to return by July 1 via various different flights.

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*This content was translated by AI.