[Anchor]

Former head coach Hong Myung-bo, who resigned following the team's elimination from the World Cup group stage, returned home early this morning (June 30). Despite the early hour on a weekday, soccer fans gathered at the airport arrivals hall to voice their anger.

Reporter Yoo Byung-min has the story.

[Reporter]

Former coach Hong Myung-bo, who voluntarily resigned yesterday after taking responsibility for the group stage exit, departed immediately from Guadalajara, Mexico, and traveled home via Atlanta, USA.

The squad returned in separate groups as they scrambled to find flights, with eight players, including Lee Kang-in and Kim Min-jae, arriving alongside Hong.

With public opinion boiling over due to the team's dismal performance and what was perceived as an insincere apology, the Korea Football Association decided for the first time not to hold a formal arrival event. Police maintained a heavy presence at the airport following reports of death threats against Hong.

Despite the early hour, around 100 people, including members of the Red Devils supporters group, soccer fans, and YouTubers, gathered at the airport. They held banners reading "Korean soccer is dead" and condemned both Hong and the football association.

As the arrival gate opened and Hong appeared, the jeers from the fans intensified.

Escorted by police, Hong walked out of the arrivals hall with a stern expression, looking straight ahead, and remained silent in response to questions from the press.

[Press: Please say a word to the players.]

The players who followed behind left the arrivals hall looking visibly startled by the fans' jeers and shouting.

Fans continued their protest at the bus stop outside the airport, criticizing Hong, but fortunately, there were no physical clashes or incidents of objects being thrown.

Meanwhile, team captain Son Heung-min posted on his social media, saying, "I am heartbroken and at a loss for words," and asked fans to "offer encouragement rather than criticism to the players."

(Video reporting: Yang Doo-won, Video editing: Ha Sung-won)