Posted on 06/30/2026 5:08:56 AM PDT by dennisw
South Korean police are preparing huge security measures at the airport hosting the arrival of their World Cup football team - after the resigning manager faced a threat to his life.
Hong Myung-bo, 57, oversaw a Korean team who won just one game and failed to get out of Group A behind hosts Mexico and South Africa and has resigned after the nation's president demanded an investigation into their poor performance.
The situation has now escalated, with the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency announcing they are sending 160 riot and airport police for the return of the national team in Korea's third-biggest city on Tuesday.
That follows threats to the life of Hong. Korean news agency Yonhap report an online post read: 'I will take the lead and kill Hong Myung-bo XXX,' - and added that they would 'go to Incheon Airport and kill Hong Myung-bo on the day of his return.'
Twenty-five special security guards have also been deployed.
A police statement read: '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.'
South Korea are ranked higher than group rivals Czechia and South Africa and had been expected to progress, but Hong's management was questioned after numerous puzzling selection decisions, including benching Son Heung-min for the final group match.
Hong was hired after the expensive sacking of Jurgen Klinsmann in 2024. The appointment process for both of those bosses was deemed improper by the Seoul Administrative Court, who found that the football association's president, Chung Mong-gyu, had bypassed procedures and undermined the board to hire them.
Football president Chung may yet face discipline amid a legal scrap with the nation's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Hong was never a popular appointment. He had previously led them to the 2014 World Cup but finished winless and bottom of a group containing Belgium, Algeria, and Russia.
Their qualification and pre-tournament friendlies were unconvincing. While they went unbeaten in their third round qualifying group, they also drew against Oman, Jordan, and twice against Palestine, whose top divisio
Here in Japan, all the hype of soccer ball and the team who just lost. Everyone is deeply depressed. With all the success of Japanese athletes in the Olympics, Major League Baseball and a top notched Men’s Volleyball team so far 8-0. Where is the love? Young fans just fall for the fashion and hype. You have Ohtani as one world wide super star and a host of others on the stage right now.
**flopped: 160 officers sent in, Harmless Teddy Bear wrote:People get very invested in a children’s game when adults play it.
Ain’t healthy.**
It’s expensive too. And glorified.
There would be no sports industrial complex without hype.
Indeed.
By the way, The Last Ship is pretty good. Just finished episode 2.
btt!!
They suck unlike France.
How did I miss that Sophie Cunningham thread. She is my Nordic Goddess and same for millions of other men. White and others.
(yeah so she is lesbian) I love her!
She's not in my dating pool regardless, but, yeah, high five!
Italy never made it to the 2026 World Cup and as of yesterday both Japan and Germany were eliminated.
Maybe America can win it all. Wouldn’t that be a kick in the shorts!
Thank God for Erling Haaland!
But first the US has to get by Bosnia and Hercegovina tomorrow. It won't be enough to defeat the Bosnians--they also have to contend with the Hercegovinans too.
One of the best of the American players is Christian Pulisic, whose grandfather was a Croatian immigrant. I don't know if he speaks the language at all (most third-generation Americans don't know their immigrant grandparents' language)--Croatian and Bosnian are basically the same language. If he does know the language he could taunt the Bosnian players. Maybe use some of the clever taunts from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Last Ship is not slick Hollywood special effects. It actually has some character development. It came out about 2017 pre Covid19.
It is fair to say that most South Koreans like "communist kickball" more than NFL...
Most Koreans do not understand why NFL is so popular in US...
In 2002, Korea and Japan hosted World Cup...Korea ended up in the fourth place...That was a big deal in Korea back then...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.