Hong Myung-bo, the former South Korea national football team head coach who oversaw the squad's worst-ever World Cup performance, arrives at Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport on Tuesday. [Yonhap]
Hong Myung-bo, the former South Korea national football team head coach who oversaw the squad's worst-ever World Cup performance, arrives at Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport on Tuesday. [Yonhap]

South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo and members of the national football squad returned through Incheon International Airport on Tuesday after a dismal showing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the team arriving in an unprecedented staggered fashion — split into multiple groups to avoid public backlash. The absence of captain Son Heung-min from the first group, which traveled with Hong, has stirred controversy.

Hong and a small group of players appeared at Gate A of Terminal 2 at around 3:51 a.m.

Hong ignored questions from reporters and walked briskly to the exit without making eye contact. He left the airport separately, accompanied by only eight players: Lee Kang-in, Kim Min-jae, Seol Young-woo, Hwang Hee-chan, Jo Hyeon-woo, Hwang In-beom, Baek Seung-ho and Kim Moon-hwan.

Europe-based players including Cho Gue-sung and Park Jin-seop headed directly to their respective clubs, while the remaining squad members are expected to pass through arrivals individually through Wednesday.

Post-World Cup press conferences have been standard practice for the national team upon returning home, but no such event was held this time. The decision to split the squad into multiple arrival groups — an unprecedented move — was widely seen as an attempt to avoid the intense public criticism the team has faced.

What drew particular attention was the exclusion of Son from the first group.

It has long been customary for the team captain to stand alongside the head coach at the front of the returning squad, facing fans and the media. Son, however, did not return with Hong.

The development has fueled speculation that a rift between the coaching staff and the team's star player — one that many felt had been simmering throughout the tournament — has now surfaced.

Meanwhile, the Korea Football Association said it had been unable to secure a large block of flights in advance because it had waited until the last moment to see whether the team would advance to the round of 32.


yeonjoo7@heraldcorp.com