As South Korea's elimination from the 2026 North and Central America World Cup was confirmed on June 28, public anger has intensified, with restaurants posting notices banning head coach Hong Myung-bo from entry and online threats of violence emerging.

Earlier today, a post appeared on an online community titled, "I will take the lead and kill Hong Myung-bo."

The author, who claimed to be a 41-year-old U.S. citizen, threatened, "I will go to Incheon International Airport on the day Hong Myung-bo returns and kill him."

Another community featured a photoshopped image titled "Hong Myung-bo's Final Tactical Briefing," depicting the coach instructing players to "scatter in different directions and run as soon as you arrive at the airport."

Unverified rumors are also spreading across online communities that Coach Hong will resign from his position immediately upon his return to Korea.

Police are tracking the authors of the posts, including the death threat, on charges of intimidation, and plan to monitor the situation closely to prevent any untoward incidents at locations such as Incheon International Airport.

At a Korean-style pub in Hogye-dong, Dongan-gu, Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, a notice was posted at the entrance featuring a drawing of a soccer ball and the words, "Hong Myung-bo Banned from Entry!"

The owner of the restaurant, identified by his surname Park (35), said in a phone call today, "I put the sign up after the match against South Africa on the 25th. As someone who loves Korean soccer, I was very angry after watching the World Cup matches."

He added, "Many people pointed out that Son Heung-min was not included in the starting lineup and that there seemed to be no clear tactics. Many people, like me, were angry and disappointed that he failed to demonstrate his capabilities as a coach."

However, Park noted, "Because I have a witty personality, I did it so that customers could see it and have a laugh. In fact, many people find it amusing and take photos."

Similar to Park's restaurant, photos of restaurants and cafes displaying "No Entry for Hong Myung-bo" signs are circulating online.

On Instagram, a meat restaurant in Gimje, North Jeolla Province, posted a photo with a notice stating, "We firmly ban the entry of national team head coach Hong Myung-bo."

A cafe in Mapo-gu, Seoul, posted a photo on its social media account with the caption, "He wouldn't come anyway, but I'm just venting my frustration," announcing the ban on the coach.

Previously, a convenience store also displayed a notice saying, "Hong Myung-bo Banned from Entry."

Photos of a city bus with a sign on the front reading, "Hong Myung-bo Banned from Boarding! No Passengers Allowed!" are also spreading through online communities.

A photoshopped image of Coach Hong superimposed in front of the phrase, "I am a deep-rooted evil, I will accept the judgment of the people," is also circulating.

Petitions submitted to the National Assembly last year, calling for the dismissal of Coach Hong and transparency in the selection process for the national team coach, have also been brought back into the spotlight.

Those petitions were closed after failing to reach the 50,000 signatures required to be referred to the relevant standing committee of the National Assembly.

The South Korean national soccer team, led by Coach Hong, finished 10th among the 12 third-place teams across groups J, K, and L following the final day of the group stage today.

Having fallen outside the top 8, which was the threshold for advancing to the Round of 32, their elimination was confirmed.

This marks the first time in 8 years that the South Korean team has failed to pass the World Cup group stage since the 2018 tournament in Russia.

Coach Hong, a key figure in the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup "semifinal myth," failed to redeem his reputation after receiving poor results—elimination in the group stage—in this North and Central America tournament, following a similar exit in the 2014 Brazil World Cup.