LA Korean restaurant bans Hong Myung-bo as Korean Americans turn on ex-coach

Former national team manager Hong Myung-bo arrives at Incheon International Airport on June 30. [Yonhap]

Anger toward former South Korea national football team manager Hong Myung-bo has spread to Korean American communities in the United States following the team's early exit from the 2026 North America World Cup.

A video posted Saturday on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, showed the owner of a Korean restaurant in Los Angeles personally taping a sign to the front door reading "Hong Myung-bo is banned from entry."

The video appeared shortly after news broke that Hong had left for the United States.

A sign reading "Hong Myung-bo is banned from entry" posted at a Korean restaurant in California. [X screenshot]

Hong resigned as manager after South Korea was eliminated in the group stage, then departed for Los Angeles — where his family lives — just two days after returning home, drawing reactions from Koreans both at home and abroad.

Overseas Koreans were particularly vocal in their criticism. Comments included: "Does he think hiding in America will change anything?"; "Why did he run off to LA without a single apology?"; "Even in America, things won't be easy for you, Hong Myung-bo"; and "You've become someone all Koreans around the world want nothing to do with."

Several foreign media outlets covered Hong's departure for the United States, pointing to concerns for his personal safety as a key factor.

Spanish outlet Cope reported Saturday that Hong "faced intense criticism from the Korean public after the World Cup" and that, according to its sources, he had received death threats and found himself in a situation where his safety and that of his family were at risk, ultimately leading him to leave for the United States where his family resides.

Spanish sports daily AS reported Thursday that Hong "has been going through a difficult time after receiving death threats" and that he left for the United States for safety reasons. AS added that "the situation surrounding the South Korean national team has not calmed down," and that Hong "appeared visibly distressed in front of the media and was seen trying to avoid being recognized."

AS also suggested that government-level pressure played a major role in his departure, citing the Korea Football Association's move to launch a special audit into the process by which Hong was appointed as manager.

In South Korea, some observers believe Hong left to avoid a National Assembly hearing, a special audit and a police investigation. When he departed through Incheon International Airport on July 2, Hong told MBC reporters: "I do have things to say, and I think they will come out properly at some point." Asked whether he would attend a National Assembly hearing, he sidestepped the question, saying: "I don't know. I'm not sure when I'll be back."

jshan@heraldcorp.com