South Korea football fans greet the country’s returning World Cup squad with boos and chants aimed at head coach Hong Myung-bo following an early tournament exit. Multiple reports describe fans jeering and shouting messages such as “Hong out!” as the coach and the team arrive back in the country, including at the airport. While the coach is targeted, the players receive a different response, with some fans applauding as they move through the arrival area.
The anger reflects disappointment over South Korea’s performance, with the team failing to reach the Round of 16 and exiting in the first round. Sources note that expectations were higher than the results, and many supporters believed the team could advance further during a tournament that was widely seen as potentially involving Son Heung-min’s last World Cup.
Overall, the reports describe a mixed public reception: criticism focused on the coach after the team’s outcome, alongside continued support for the players despite the disappointing campaign.
