Following the shocking group stage exit at the 2026 North and Central America World Cup, former coach Hong Myung-bo has returned to South Korea, where AI-generated mockery images have begun to circulate online.
The Korea Football Association announced that the national team would return through Incheon International Airport but would not hold any official return events, such as a farewell ceremony or press conference. This decision to cancel the official welcome event for the team after an overseas World Cup is considered unusual.
Many observers have drawn parallels to the 2014 Brazil World Cup, where Hong's team also failed to advance from the group stage, finishing with one draw and two losses. Upon their return, some fans threw pumpkin candy at Hong to express their discontent.
Criticism among football fans has emerged, questioning whether the association is trying to evade accountability. Given the team's strong lineup and favorable chances for advancing to the knockout stage, the disappointment over their early exit and poor performance has been significant.
As a result, AI-generated images mocking Hong have quickly spread across online communities and social media. One image depicts Hong being pelted with eggs at the airport, while others parody him receiving tactical advice from a fan or writing an apology with his backside. Although these images are not real, they symbolically reflect the fans' disappointment and anger towards the former coach.
Fans have reacted with comments such as, "This shows the public sentiment has hit rock bottom," and "The emergence of AI parodies indicates just how disappointing this World Cup has been." Others noted, "The national team and the football association have completely lost the trust of the public."
Additionally, online reactions included remarks like, "The nightmare of 2014 has repeated itself after 12 years," and, "This time, instead of pumpkin candy, we have AI memes." Some speculated that the cancellation of the event was a precaution against a repeat of the past situation.
Meanwhile, Hong has expressed his intention to resign as head coach, taking responsibility for the team's failure to advance past the group stage. However, criticism regarding the team's performance and the Korea Football Association's management continues unabated, and discussions surrounding the appointment of a new coach and reforms in Korean football are expected to persist for the foreseeable future.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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