The backlash against former South Korean national soccer team coach Hong Myung-bo continues to spread internationally following the team’s early elimination from the 2026 North and Central American World Cup. In a recent development, a Korean restaurant in Los Angeles (LA), where Hong is reportedly staying, has posted a sign on its entrance stating “Hong Myung-bo Not Allowed.”
On July 5, a video surfaced on X (formerly Twitter) showing the owner of a Korean restaurant in LA personally affixing a sign to the establishment’s door that reads “Hong Myung-bo is prohibited from entering.”
The video reportedly emerged shortly after news broke of Hong’s departure to the U.S.
In the wake of South Korea’s elimination from the World Cup group stage and Hong’s subsequent resignation as coach, soccer fans both in South Korea and abroad have expressed a wide range of reactions to his apparent escape to America.
Korean expatriates, in particular, have been vocal on social media, with comments such as “Do you think hiding in America will change anything?”, “Why did he flee to LA without even apologizing?”, “Hong Myung-bo, life won’t be easy for you in America either,” and “You’ve become a pariah among Koreans worldwide.”
Prior to this, criticism of the national team’s performance and Hong’s tactical decisions had already spread rapidly within South Korea.
A photo of a sign reading “Hong Myung-bo Not Allowed” posted on a convenience store door went viral on online communities and social media, reflecting the fans’ deep disappointment and anger.
The outcry against Hong’s poor performance has even reached the National Assembly. According to recent reports from online communities, a petition titled, Immediate Dismissal of National Soccer Team Coach Hong Myung-bo and Implementation of a System to Nullify Appointment Process if Violated, has been registered in the national petition system, indicating that the demand for Hong’s accountability remains ongoing.
