"Hong Myung-bo Former Coach Sparks Controversy by Entering LAX Through VIP Channel Ahead of Culture Ministry Probe... 'Escape' Speculation Grows [2026 FIFA World Cup]"

[Financial News] The back view of a disgraced coach who failed to meet public expectations was both bitter and strangely unsettling.
Hong Myung-bo, the former head coach of the South Korea national football team, stepped down after taking responsibility for the team's failure to advance to the round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America. He then suddenly boarded a flight to the United States, using a paid VIP service that allowed him to completely avoid reporters and fans.
According to aviation industry sources, Hong entered the United States through the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on the 2nd local time. However, he could not be seen anywhere in the regular arrival area that day.
The reason was clear. He left the airport through a separate passage. World Cup host airports often provide dedicated lanes offered by FIFA, but LAX currently has no such facility. Instead, it only has a commercial VIP channel that anyone can use for a fee.
The service Hong appears to have used is a premium concierge offering known as 'PS Direct.' It costs between $1,125 and $1,650 per use, or about 1.73 million won to 2.54 million won. After getting off the plane, passengers are transferred directly to a private vehicle and taken straight to their destination. It is widely known as a service favored by Hollywood celebrities trying to avoid paparazzi and by wealthy clients who place a high value on privacy.
Even before the shock of the World Cup failure had faded, his quiet arrival in Los Angeles at such a high cost has drawn criticism from inside and outside the football world. The timing is too coincidental to be dismissed as a simple trip for rest.
South Korean football is now facing a strong backlash. This comes right after Choi Hwi-young, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, announced that he would form a committee to thoroughly investigate the causes and process behind the team's group-stage elimination. The former coach, who bears the greatest responsibility for the team's poor performance and should be a key subject of the inquiry, has left the country.
Although he has already declared his resignation and is now technically a private citizen, the former coach's irresponsible departure, which has deeply disappointed countless fans, is likely to remain a major source of controversy for some time.
jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter