South Korea’s 2026 World Cup ended in failure, and the anger back home has not cooled since the team crashed out of the group stage in North America.
Head coach Hong Myung-bo resigned after overseeing one of the country’s worst showings at a major tournament, with only a single win to show for it across three games. President Lee Jae-myung went further, demanding a government investigation into exactly how it all went wrong.
That fury was understandable. But the reaction has now gone too far, leading to riot police being deployed at Incheon airport to protect Hong and his returning squad when they land on Tuesday.
Riot police deployed to protect Hong Myung-bo after World Cup death threat
The Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency confirmed it would send 160 riot and airport officers to meet the national team in the country’s third-largest city, as reported by Mail Sport. A further 25 special security guards have also been deployed.
The measures follow a threat to Hong’s life. An online post vowed to travel to Incheon airport and kill the 57-year-old on the day of his return — wording that pushed police to treat the homecoming as a genuine security risk.
Police framed the operation as a precaution. They said: “We will respond strictly to any illegal acts, including the throwing of objects.”
Hong had already stepped down before the threat emerged, taking full responsibility for a campaign that brought a 2-1 win over Czechia but 1-0 defeats to co-hosts Mexico and to South Africa.
His in-game calls drew heavy criticism too, none more so than benching captain Son Heung-min for the decisive final group game.
It was a familiar ending. Hong also led South Korea out at the bottom of their group at the 2014 World Cup, and his second appointment was unpopular from the start.
Football has always stirred deep emotion, and frustration at a wasted World Cup is part of that. But a threat to kill a coach over results on a pitch crosses a clear line, and sits completely at odds with the spirit the tournament is supposed to foster.
