Police brace for Hong Myung-bo's airport return amid death threats
The former manager, who stepped down on Sunday after facing heavy criticism for Korea's disappointing World Cup showing, will arrive Tuesday morning.
Hong Myung-bo enters a press conference room at the national football team's base camp at Chivas Valle Verde in Zapopan, Mexico, on June 28, as he prepares to announce that he will step down from his role as manager.
NEWS1
More than 100 police officers will be stationed at Incheon International Airport for the arrival of former national football manager Hong Myung-bo amid death threats and mounting criticism against him.
Incheon International Airport Police Corps is deploying the officers — three mobile police units from the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency as well as airport police officers — to maintain order and ensure safety when Hong and the national team arrive Tuesday morning, police said Monday.
Police said the Korea Football Association (KFA) did not request separate personal protection for Hong.
Korea failed to advance to the FIFA World Cup 2026's knockout stage after Uzbekistan lost 3-1 to the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Saturday, eliminating all remaining potential scenarios for Korea to reach the Round of 32. Hong has since stepped down as coach, while criticism of him has intensified, including online death threats.
Hong and eight players departed Guadalajara, Mexico, on Sunday and are scheduled to arrive at Incheon International Airport on Tuesday morning.
Airport police plan to separate the routes used by the team and ordinary travelers and focus on maintaining order to prevent disruptions to other arriving passengers.
Police said they will respond firmly to illegal acts such as throwing objects, assault and obstructing official duties.
"We plan to provide tighter security than usual because large crowds are expected during the team's arrival and threatening posts have recently been uploaded online," said an airport police official. "We requested additional mobile police units and will work with the airport's private security personnel to thoroughly prepare and prevent any safety incidents."
There will also be no arrival event for the team, according to the KFA. It marks the first time since the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup that the national team has returned from an overseas World Cup without one.
An arrival event was held even after the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, when Hong also coached the team to a group-stage exit with one draw and two losses. At the time, fans threw yeot, a traditional Korean sticky taffy, at the team. "Eat yeot" is commonly used in Korean as an insult.
The remaining players, including Son Heung-min, are scheduled to return in small groups through Tuesday.
Separately, police are investigating eight complaints filed against KFA officials over Hong's appointment as national team coach in 2024. The complaints allege obstruction of business and abuse of authority in connection with Hong's appointment.
BY CHO MUN-GYU [[email protected]]
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
