Riot police deployed as death threats greet South Korea's World Cup exit and Hong Myung-bo's resignation

South Korea’s failed 2026 World Cup campaign has spiralled into a security crisis, with 160 riot and airport police set to meet the squad at Incheon International Airport on Tuesday after death threats were made against manager Hong Myung-bo on social media. Hong, 57, resigned following the team’s group-stage exit, and his face was subsequently blurred on national television as though he were a criminal.

South Korea began Group A with a comeback victory over Czech Republic but lost their next two matches to South Africa and Mexico. Their hopes of advancing as one of the eight best third-placed teams were extinguished when DR Congo beat Uzbekistan 3-1 on Saturday.

The Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency confirmed the deployment in a statement: “We have decided to deploy officers to prevent safety accidents that may occur during the entry process. We will respond strictly to any illegal acts, including the throwing of objects.” The Incheon International Airport Corporation will also station 25 additional officers on site, including specialist security personnel.

The backlash has reached the highest levels of government. President Lee Jae-myung publicly branded Hong “incapable” and ordered a full review of the national team programme. “Once again, it has been proven that personnel decisions determine everything,” the president said. “If loyalty and factionalism are valued over competence and an incapable person is appointed as a leader, the outcome is as predictable as fire.”

Lee, describing himself as “a member of the Red Devils” at heart, added: “I sincerely apologise to the public for the deep disappointment caused by this absurd situation. We will move swiftly to reform sports administration to ensure this does not happen again.”

This was Hong’s second spell in charge of the national side. He also managed South Korea at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where they similarly failed to advance from the group stage. The country has made 11 consecutive World Cup appearances and famously reached the semi-finals as co-hosts in 2002, a benchmark that has made every early exit since feel especially acute.