“Manager Park Hang-seo with his head bowed”: Vietnam also focused on the grim return journey... “Korean fans hurled insults at Coach Hong Myung-bo”

*This content was translated by AI.

Vietnam also highlighted the grim scene of the Korean national team’s return.

Vietnamese local media Vietnam.vn reported on June 30 (Korean time) that “former Vietnam national team coach Park Hang-seo bowed his head while returning to Korea with the Korean national team.”

The outlet explained, “As former Korean national team coach Hong Myung-bo appeared, the atmosphere at the airport turned hostile. Many fans continued to beat drums and chanted slogans such as ‘Hong Myung-bo, resign.’ They also hurled criticism and insults at the former coach.”

It further added, “Amid continued jeers and protests, security personnel were deployed to guide the former coach and national team officials out of the airport. Some players also walked with bowed heads, passing through the crowd with tired expressions.”

Under the leadership of former coach Hong, South Korea suffered a poor performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, failing to advance from the group stage. The team finished with one win and two losses, placing third in Group A. Although the number of teams participating in the finals increased from 32 to 48 starting this World Cup, South Korea failed to reach the knockout stage, ending up in a dismal 34th place overall. This was the worst ranking in South Korea’s World Cup history.

The shock was even greater given that South Korea was assessed as having been placed in a relatively manageable group. South Korea was drawn into Group A alongside host nation Mexico, Czechia, and South Africa. However, contrary to expectations, the team failed to advance to the round of 32.

Especially critical was the result of the final match. South Korea, which would have advanced to the round of 32 as the second-place team in Group A with just a draw, lost 0-1 to South Africa in the third group stage match. Criticism directed at former coach Hong was intense.

This tournament allowed not only the top two teams from each group but also the eight best-performing third-place teams among the 12 third-place finishers to advance to the round of 32. However, South Korea finished only 10th among the third-place teams. Ultimately, the team failed to reach the knockout stage and concluded its North America World Cup journey. After it was confirmed that South Korea had been eliminated from the group stage, former coach Hong held a press conference and announced his resignation.

However, the anger of Korean football fans did not subside easily. At the scene of former coach Hong’s return on that day, severe insults and criticism were poured out. Along with former coach Hong, some players returned to Korea via Incheon International Airport on June 30. Even at an early hour, a crowd of about 300 people gathered, and before the national team even appeared at the arrival hall, harsh insults were shouted alongside cries of “Hong Myung-bo, get out.”

Former coach Hong showed no particular reaction. With a stern expression, he stared straight ahead and headed toward the exit. Some football fans continued to express strong dissatisfaction by chanting “Hong Myung-bo, get out” until the moment the former coach and the player squad boarded the bus. Shouts mixed with insults and profanities continued. Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), and some other national team players, along with World Cup support team manager Park Hang-seo, exited the arrival hall with somber expressions.

Vietnam.vn reported, “After the Korean national team was eliminated early from the North America World Cup, a wave of anger swept through Korean fans. This performance fell far short of expectations.” It added, “Many people claimed that former coach Hong was responsible for South Korea’s disappointing results, and pressure on the coach intensified.”

It further emphasized, “The tense scene of the Korean national team’s return was seen as the clearest depiction of the immense pressure faced by coaching staff and players after a defeat at the world’s largest football tournament.”

Former coach Hong also led the Korean national team at the 2014 Brazil World Cup, where the team was eliminated in the group stage with one draw and two losses. Even in the North America World Cup, where he took charge of the national team again after 10 years, he could not avoid the same outcome.

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*This content was translated by AI.