Squad due at Incheon airport in early hours Tuesday

No media activities planned upon arrival

South Korea national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo leaves after a resignation press conference at Chivas Valle Verde in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, on Sunday (local time). [Yonhap]
South Korea national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo leaves after a resignation press conference at Chivas Valle Verde in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, on Sunday (local time). [Yonhap]

By Jung Joo-won, The Herald Business

Police are sharply stepping up security at Incheon International Airport ahead of the South Korea national football team's return Tuesday, following the squad's failure to advance from the group stage at the 2026 North America World Cup.

According to police and other sources Monday, the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency plans to deploy 160 officers from its mobile unit and airport police corps at the airport Tuesday. Incheon International Airport Corp. also plans to station 25 personnel — including special security guards and subsidiary staff — at the scene to prepare for any unexpected incidents.

Police decided to bolster security after a series of threatening posts targeting head coach Hong Myung-bo appeared on online communities in recent days, with heavy congestion also expected at the airport.

One post on an online community stated that the author intended to go to Incheon airport on the day of Hong's return and kill him.

"We have decided to deploy police to prevent safety incidents that could occur during the arrival process," a police official said. "If any illegal acts — such as throwing objects — take place, we will respond strictly."

The squad departed Guadalajara, Mexico, at 12:58 p.m. Sunday (local time) and is expected to arrive at Incheon International Airport at around 4 a.m. Tuesday Korean Standard Time.

Those scheduled to return include coach Hong and eight players: Cho Hyun-woo, Kim Min-jae, Hwang In-beom, Hwang Hee-chan, Baek Seung-ho, Kim Moon-hwan, Lee Kang-in and Seol Young-woo. No media activities are planned upon arrival.

South Korea finished the tournament ranked 34th overall, failing to advance to the round of 32 — the lowest finish in the country's World Cup history.


jookapooka@heraldcorp.com