Fans Express Anger at Airport as Hong Myung-bo Remains Silent Upon Arrival

[Anchor]

Former national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo, who resigned voluntarily after the team's worst-ever performance, has returned to Korea along with some of the players. Fans gathered at the airport to voice their anger with shouting and insults, while Hong left the scene without saying a word.

Reporter Hong Seok-jun has the story.

[Reporter]

The anger of football fans toward former coach Hong Myung-bo, who stepped down taking responsibility for the team's group-stage elimination, and the Korea Football Association (KFA) filled Incheon International Airport in the early hours of a weekday.

[Get out, Hong Myung-bo!]

[Hong Myung-bo, get lost!]

Even though the KFA decided not to hold an arrival ceremony for the first time since the 1990 tournament, about 100 people, including members of the Red Devils, football fans, and YouTubers, gathered four hours before the team's arrival. With death threats against the former coach having appeared online earlier, 160 police officers were deployed to maintain strict security at the arrival gate.

When Hong finally appeared at the arrival gate, the fans' jeers grew even louder.

[Hong Myung-bo, get out! Hong Myung-bo, get out!]

Escorted by police, Hong walked through the arrival hall with a stern expression, looking straight ahead, and remained silent in response to questions from reporters.

[Please say a word to the players!]

While there was no repeat of the candy-throwing incident or physical clashes seen 12 years ago, the fans' criticism continued until the bus carrying KFA officials departed.

[Interview: Cho Ho-tae / Red Devils Steering Committee Chair: We wanted to make sure they heard the voices of football fans as soon as they arrived in Korea. We hope for overall reform in the football community and that they can start over with the mindset of recreating the glory of 2002.]

While fans sent messages of support to the eight players who arrived with Hong, including Lee Kang-in and Kim Min-jae,

[Lee Kang-in, fighting!]

a commotion occurred when a fan threw a piece of dog gum at KFA President Chung Mong-gyu, who arrived on a later flight.

Reported by Yang Doo-won | Video edited by Hwang Ji-young
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.