'A Rudeness Itself' Hong Myung-bo's Predicted 'Airport Escape', 'Unilateral Resignation Notice' Even at That Time... [World Cup On-Site Issues]

*This content was translated by AI.

It was a disgraceful departure until the very last moment. Former South Korea national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo, who cut off all questions from the press corps at the North America and Central America venue and announced his resignation with a statement lasting less than two minutes, did not open his mouth even until the moment he set foot on Korean soil.

The Lee Kkeu-neun (CEO) team's main staff returned home through Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 in the early hours of the 30th.

This was the first time former coach Hong, who suffered a disastrous group stage exit finishing 34th in this World Cup, appeared before domestic fans after announcing his resignation. Despite the early morning hour, over 300 angry football fans and reporters gathered at the airport, filling the arrival hall with shouts of "Hong Myung-bo, get out" and sharp critical slogans.

Former coach Hong appeared at the arrival hall surrounded by security personnel, staring straight ahead with a stern expression even amidst the jeers of angry fans. Full-time reporters waiting on-site followed him, asking multiple questions about the causes of the crushing defeat and his reflections on the resignation, but former coach Hong ultimately left not a single word of answer. It is the first time since the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup that a head coach who finished the World Cup escaped the airport like a fugitive without a single interview at the arrival site.

The 'uncommunicative return' was already a predictable farce. It was a thorough unilateral notice starting from the resignation press conference held the previous day at the Chivas Verde Base Camp in Zapopan, Guadalajara, Mexico.

Initially, a Korea Football Association official had notified the on-site press corps that a press conference would proceed normally at 9:30 a.m. on the day before the resignation. However, at 9 a.m. on that day, they suddenly changed their stance unilaterally, stating that "question-and-answer sessions with the press corps are not possible."

Consequently, former coach Hong, who faced the press on-site, said, "I am sorry to the people of Korea who have loved and supported South Korean football," and unilaterally read out an apology statement stating, "I wish to step down as the head coach of the Oh Neul (CEO) team" for less than two minutes.

Seemingly aware of the past two years marred by suspicions of special treatment and controversies over fairness, former coach Hong explained in his apology statement, "The position of national team head coach was by no means an easy decision, but I believed that fulfilling the responsibility entrusted to me until the end was the only duty."

He further emphasized, "I have always asked myself, 'Is this choice a choice for South Korean football?' and the standard for all judgments has always been Korean football."

He omitted any specific diagnosis or review of the errors on the main stage that led to self-destruction due to a lack of tactical flexibility and a collapse in performance. He simply concluded his hurried resignation declaration with the words, "The position of head coach is one where one takes responsibility without any explanation in front of results, so today I will speak of responsibility rather than explanation. The responsibility for not showing the results that the people of Korea expected lies entirely with me."

It was a responsibility limited to words. As soon as the monologue of the apology statement ended, former coach Hong hurriedly left the venue without any additional explanation.

Moreover, former coach Hong was captured with his hands in his pockets after reading the apology statement during his departure in Mexico, sparking fierce controversy over his attitude. Furthermore, even on his return journey to Korea, he never bowed his head or stood before the fans, making it impossible to avoid criticism that he even discarded his final dignity.

Even more, about 40 minutes after former coach Hong and the team departed the airport, Jeong Mong-gyu, the Han Chuk-gu-hyeop (Chairman) president, appeared alone at the arrival hall. Jeong (Chairman) has also been under fierce pressure to resign, identified as a key figure responsible for the collapse of Korean football administration, including the North America and Central America World Cup disaster and the head coach appointment controversy. As the anger of the fans remaining on-site reached its peak, a commotion even occurred where excrement was thrown at Jeong (Chairman), but Jeong (Chairman) also hurriedly left the airport without a single word of apology or explanation for the national disaster, leaving the angry public sentiment behind.

This is the Hong Myung-bo team that, despite securing the best-ever draw in history on the first-ever 48-nation stage, self-destructed due to a complete lack of tactics, leaving an indelible shame of the lowest World Cup ranking in 44 years since 1982. From the unilateral resignation monologue in Mexico to the silent escape at Incheon Airport, the final image shown before the angry people was nothing but irresponsible evasion and flight.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.