Published on 6/29/2026
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Last update: 14:43 (Mecca time)
South Korean police opened an official investigation after resigned national team coach Hong Myung-bo received death threats, following the early exclusion of the Taeguk Warriors from the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, following a 1-0 defeat to South Africa.
South Korea’s exit was a shock to its fans, after the team failed to qualify even among the best third-placed teams, bidding farewell to the tournament early and returning to its country amid a wave of anger and widespread criticism that affected the technical staff and players.
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Anger escalated to dangerous levels, as media reports, including Seoul Radio, reported that a direct death threat was directed at the coach via the Internet, which prompted the authorities to open an urgent investigation and intensify security measures around his whereabouts, especially at Incheon Airport, in anticipation of any targeting attempt.
Death threat
The emails reportedly included an explicit threat from a person who claimed to be an American citizen, threatening to carry out an attack as soon as the coach arrived in the country, which prompted the police to treat the incident as a serious threat to public security, while working to identify the suspect.
These developments reflect the amount of escalating tension surrounding the South Korean national team in recent years, especially since coach Hong Myung-bo had assumed the technical leadership of the team in 2024, in a controversial return to the position he previously held before the World Cup in 2014, when the experience also ended with an exit from the group stage.
His appointment at the current stage also sparked a debate within the Korean sports street about the transparency of the Korean Football Association’s choices, especially after the turbulent period that the national team experienced under the leadership of former coach Jurgen Klinsmann, which was characterized by fluctuating results and internal disputes.
South Korea coach resignation
Hong announced his resignation before returning to South Korea, during a press conference at the team’s camp in the Mexican city of Guadalajara, after it was confirmed that South Korea had failed to qualify for the round of 32 among the eight best teams that ranked third in the group stage.
“I would like to sincerely apologize to the compatriots who loved Korean football and always supported the national team,” Coach Hong said.
He added: “Today, I would like to step down from my position as head coach of the South Korean national football team.”
He added: “I thought that my only mission was to fulfill the responsibility entrusted to me until the end, but I failed to achieve the results that the public expected, and the responsibility lies entirely with me.”
The resignation came hours after South Korean President Lee Jae-myung criticized the team’s performance, considering that the failure to qualify stemmed from organizational and human failures, calling on the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to investigate the causes of what happened and put in place procedures to prevent its recurrence.
It is noteworthy that Hong – a former international defender who played 136 matches for his country’s national team – took over as coach of South Korea in 2024, succeeding German Jurgen Klinsmann, with a contract extending until the Asian Cup in 2027, after he led the national team to its eleventh successive qualification to the World Cup finals.
