The national football team returned home to a barrage of jeers and protests from fans after failing to advance past the group stage at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Following the conclusion of their World Cup schedule, the team returned in separate groups. Head coach Hong and some players were the first to arrive at Incheon International Airport early this morning (June 30).
Although the flight carrying Hong and the others was expected to arrive around 4:00 a.m., fans had already begun gathering one to two hours earlier, alongside members of the press.
By the time the arrival drew near, the crowd had swelled to approximately 300 people.
The scene was chaotic, with numerous individual YouTubers broadcasting live from the airport long before the team arrived.
Under Hong's leadership, the team finished third in Group A with one win and two losses (3 points), failing to qualify for the knockout stage of the 32-nation tournament.
Criticism toward Hong, the team, and the Korea Football Association (KFA) had been mounting since their lackluster 0-1 loss to South Africa in the third group match on June 25 (Korea Standard Time), and the intensity grew further once their elimination was confirmed.
Unlike the 2014 Brazil World Cup, where the team was also eliminated in the group stage with one draw and two losses, the KFA did not hold a separate arrival ceremony for the team this time.
With the atmosphere turning hostile to the point that threats against Hong had appeared online, over 100 police officers were deployed to the airport to prepare for any potential incidents.
Twelve years ago, when the team led by Hong also failed to reach the round of 16, fans threw yeot (traditional Korean taffy) at the players to mock them. This time, however, no such incident occurred.
However, the area remained noisy throughout, filled with shouting, profanity, and the sound of drums, with chants such as "Hong Myung-bo out" and "Return your salary."
As the wait dragged on after the flight's arrival, complaints could be heard from the crowd, with some asking, "Why aren't they coming out?"
When Hong, along with national team support director Park Hang-seo and KFA executive director Kim Seung-hee, finally entered the arrival hall, the shouting and booing from fans intensified.
Some in the crowd offered words of support, shouting "Don't blame the players," "Fighting," and "You worked hard."
Amid the mix of shouting, insults, and encouragement, Hong and the players left the arrival hall with stern expressions. Fans remained at the scene, continuing to shout and hurl insults until the vehicles carrying the players and the bus carrying KFA officials departed.
While the paths for the fans and the team were separated, a few pre-selected reporters followed Hong and asked questions such as, "Do you have anything to say to the fans?" but Hong did not provide any response.
Some fans expressed their frustration, saying, "He didn't take any questions at the press conference in Mexico where he announced his resignation, and he didn't say anything today either."
After the team left the airport, the KFA stated in a media notice, "We had informed the media in advance that no media activities would be allowed at the airport upon arrival, and that only footage could be captured."
About 40 minutes after Hong and the team departed, KFA President Chung Mong-gyu arrived on a separate flight.
It was reported that a man threw an object known as "dog gum" toward President Chung.
(Photo: Yonhap News)