Backlash After World Cup Round-of-32 Exit: Mocking Photos of Hong Myung-bo and No-Entry Notices Spread

[Financial News] As the South Korea national football team failed to advance to the round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, criticism of head coach Hong Myung-bo is spreading online and offline.
On the 29th, satirical images targeting Hong and notices banning him from entering stores were widely shared on online communities and social networking services. In some anonymous communities, posts containing death threats were also uploaded.
On the afternoon of the previous day, the 28th, one online community post read, "I’ll take the lead and kill Hong Myung-bo XXX."
The writer identified himself as "born in 1986, 41 years old" and wrote, "I will go to Incheon International Airport and kill him on the day Hong Myung-bo returns to Korea."
Mocking composite photos of Hong are also spreading across online communities and social networking services.
One community posted a composite image titled "Hong Myung-bo's Final Tactical Instructions," showing him as if he were explaining tactics to players. The image included the phrase, "When you arrive at the airport, don't look back and scatter in different directions."
Photos of notices saying Hong is banned from entering stores and boarding buses are also being posted one after another.
A convenience store door displayed a notice reading, "Hong Myung-bo is banned from entering." A city bus front door was also seen with a paper sign that said, "No boarding for Hong Myung-bo! Refusal of boarding!"
Some self-employed business owners are posting notices directly at their stores to make clear that they will not serve Hong.
At the entrance of a bar in Hogye-dong, Dongan-gu, Anyang, a notice was also posted saying, "Hong Myung-bo is banned from entering!"
On the social networking service account of a cafe in Seoul Mapo-gu, a photo of a no-entry notice for Hong was posted along with the message, "He probably won't come anyway, but I'm still too upset."
A barbecue restaurant in Gimje, Jeonbuk, also posted a notice on its official social networking service on the 26th saying, "From today until further notice, we firmly prohibit the entry of national team head coach Hong Myung-bo."
As criticism and satire intensify, police are reportedly monitoring the situation for possible unexpected incidents related to the death-threat post.
Meanwhile, South Korea was eliminated after failing to finish in the top eight, the cutoff for advancing to the round of 32. It is the first time in eight years that the team has failed to get past the group stage, since the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.
Hong, who was a key figure in South Korea's historic run to the semifinals at the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, was unable to avoid a group-stage exit again at this North American tournament, following the 2014 FIFA World Cup.


hsg@fnnews.com Han Seung-gon Reporter