South Korean police are implementing significant security measures at Incheon Airport for the national football team's return, prompted by online threats against manager Hong Myung-bo. Approximately 160 riot and airport police officers will be deployed on Tuesday, along with 25 special security guards, to manage the team's arrival and prevent any incidents.
The heightened security follows an online post threatening to kill Hong Myung-bo upon his return, according to Korean news agency Yonhap. The national team's performance in the World Cup, where they secured only one win and failed to advance past the group stage, has drawn significant criticism.
Hong Myung-bo has resigned from his position. His tenure was marked by public questioning of his management decisions, including benching key player Son Heung-min in the final group match. The team was expected to progress further, having been ranked higher than group rivals Czechia and South Africa.
This situation adds to a period of turmoil for the South Korean football association. Hong was appointed after the dismissal of Jurgen Klinsmann in 2024. The Seoul Administrative Court previously ruled that the appointment process for both managers was irregular, citing Football Association President Chung Mong-gyu's alleged circumvention of established procedures. Chung himself may face disciplinary action amid disputes with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Hong's previous management of the national team at the 2014 World Cup also ended without a win, finishing at the bottom of their group. The team's qualification campaign and pre-tournament matches leading up to the current World Cup were described as unconvincing, with notable draws against Oman, Jordan, and Palestine, and significant losses to Brazil and Ivory Coast.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has expressed his dismay over the team's exit, calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances. In a statement on X, Lee described the outcome as "utterly baffled" and "truly absurd," suggesting that prioritizing loyalty and factionalism over competence contributed to the poor results. He further called for reforms in sports administration to prevent similar occurrences and ensure accountability for those in appointment authority. The police statement indicated that the deployed officers aim to "prevent safety accidents that may occur during the entry process" and will "respond strictly to any illegal acts, including the throwing of objects."