Truly cowardly to the end: Hong Myung-bo has left Korea, and Jeong Mong-gyu is hiding

*This content was translated by AI.

Coach Hong Myung-bo has left Korea entirely. Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman) has also vanished. Not a single leader who stood at the center of the South Korean team's failure to advance from the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America and the Caribbean has offered a proper apology. The cowardly appearance of these two leaders, once hailed as 'the best,' fully reveals why South Korean football had no choice but to plummet so drastically.

Coach Hong Myung-bo departed for the United States through Incheon International Airport on the 2nd, just two days after returning from the World Cup. With his hat pulled low and a mask covering his face, Coach Hong's appearance was unmistakably that of someone trying to leave secretly. From Coach Hong's perspective, it was unfortunate that he was caught by a broadcaster's reporting team at the airport, leading to a brief interview that ultimately revealed his departure.

The problem is that Coach Hong not only failed to offer a proper apology for the team's poor World Cup performance but also fled before addressing various rumors, including those about internal strife within the national team. In fact, Coach Hong had unilaterally announced his intention to resign while in Mexico and has not issued any official statement regarding the World Cup since then. Even on his return flight last month, he slipped away from the airport without bowing his head even once despite fierce criticism from fans.

Amidst Coach Hong Myung-bo's silence, rumors such as internal strife during the World Cup and conflicts between Son Heung-min (LAFC) and Coach Hong have continued to spread. Speculation has also been rampant regarding the reason for Lee Jae-sung (Mainz 05), a key midfielder, missing the match against South Africa. Ultimately, it was only Coach Hong, who stood at the center of the situation, who secretly departed for the United States. It is reported that his family resides in Los Angeles, USA, where he headed, and there are even reports that he informed close associates that he has no plans to return to Korea for the time being.

If Coach Hong Myung-bo has left Korea, Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman) has also vanished. Perhaps because he was the figure at the center of Coach Hong Myung-bo's appointment and even the regression of South Korean football, he should have been the first to bow his head in apology, yet there is no trace of Jeong (Chairman) anywhere. Although he expressed his intention to resign ahead of the World Cup, he has not yet submitted his resignation letter, so he remains the head of the Football Association.

Although Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman) traveled with the national team throughout the World Cup, his presence disappeared immediately after the team's elimination from the Round of 32. Before Coach Hong Myung-bo's resignation was announced, it was Park Hang-seo, head of the World Cup Support Team and Vice President of the Korea Football Association, who apologized on behalf of the Korea Football Association for the poor performance in this tournament. When the national team, including Coach Hong Myung-bo, returned to Korea, the first person to appear at the arrival hall was not Jeong (Chairman) but Vice President Park Hang-seo.

At that time, Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman) only appeared at the arrival hall after all members of the national team who had arrived earlier, including Coach Hong, had already left the airport, and he faced fierce criticism from many fans, even being subjected to the throwing of gum wrappers. It is reported that the national team and Jeong (Chairman) were on different flights; however, even if Coach Hong's performance had been good, it remains uncertain whether Jeong (Chairman) would have secretly arrived on a separate flight alone.

Even when the Korea Football Association issued its first official statement on the 3rd, Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman)'s name was absent. Through a letter titled "To All Football Fans," the association stated, "We sincerely apologize for disappointing you with results that did not meet expectations," but it did not specify who was apologizing to the fans or whose name the statement bore. This is not an isolated incident. In previous tragedies surrounding South Korean football, such as the failure to qualify for the Olympics in 40 years, Jeong (Chairman) has always been busy hiding rather than stepping forward to apologize or take responsibility. The decline of South Korean football, where leaders themselves were cowardly from the start, was inevitable from the beginning.

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*This content was translated by AI.