South Korean police have launched an official investigation following death threats directed at former national team coach Hong Myung-bo. The threats emerged after South Korea's early elimination from the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, following a 1-0 loss to South Africa.
South Korea's exit came as a shock to fans, as the team failed to qualify even as one of the best third-placed teams, leading to their early return home amidst widespread anger and criticism towards the coaching staff and players.
The situation escalated to dangerous levels, with media reports, including from Seoul Radio, disclosing that a direct death threat was made to the coach online. This prompted authorities to initiate an urgent investigation and increase security measures around his locations, especially at Incheon Airport, to prevent any potential attack.
According to reports, the online message included a direct threat from someone claiming to be an American citizen, promising an attack upon the coach's arrival in the country. As a result, police are treating the incident as a serious public security threat while working to identify the suspect.
These developments highlight the heightened tension surrounding the South Korean national team in recent years. Hong Myung-bo returned to the coaching role in 2024, a controversial comeback after his previous experience before the 2014 World Cup also ended in a group stage exit.
His appointment at this stage sparked debate within Korea's sports community about the transparency of the Korea Football Association's decisions, especially following a turbulent period under former coach Jürgen Klinsmann marked by inconsistent results and internal conflicts.
South Korea Coach Resigns
Hong announced his resignation before returning to South Korea, during a press conference at the team's camp in Guadalajara, Mexico, after it was clear the team failed to qualify among the best third-placed teams in the group stage.
Coach Hong stated, "I sincerely apologize to the citizens who loved Korean football and have always supported the national team."
He added, "Today, I wish to step down from my position as the head coach of the South Korean national football team."
Hong further expressed, "I believed my sole duty was to fulfill the responsibility assigned to me until the end, but I failed to deliver the results the public expected, and the responsibility is entirely mine."
The resignation followed hours after South Korean President Lee Jae-myung criticized the team's performance, stating the failure to qualify stemmed from organizational and human failures, and called on the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to investigate and implement measures to prevent recurrence.
Hong, a former international defender with 136 caps for his country, took over the South Korean team in 2024, succeeding Germany's Jürgen Klinsmann, with a contract running until the 2027 Asian Cup, after leading the team to its eleventh consecutive World Cup qualification.