The Red Devils supporters group demanded that former national team coach Hong Myung-bo permanently leave Korean football following the team's early World Cup exit [1].
The demand signals a deep rift between the national team's leadership and its most influential fanbase. The call for Hong's permanent removal reflects a broader desire for structural change within the Korean Football Association (KFA) after a disappointing international campaign.
South Korea was eliminated in the round of 32 [1] during the 2026 World Cup. Following the elimination, Hong Myung-bo resigned from his position. However, the official supporters group, known as the Red Devils, issued a statement asserting that resignation alone was insufficient.
In a public statement, the group said, "Hong Myung-bo, leave the football world forever" [1]. The Red Devils, which have existed for 30 years since their founding in 1997 [1], gathered at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul to voice their frustration. The crowd chanted "Republic of Korea!" while protesting the team's performance.
The group's grievances extend beyond the coaching staff to the governance of the sport in South Korea. The Red Devils said they would continue to struggle until the "deep-rooted evils of Korean football disappear" [1].
Protesters at Gwanghwamun Square focused their anger on the systemic failures that led to the round-of-32 exit. They argued that the lack of progress and poor performance on the world stage required more than a simple change in leadership, and they demanded a complete overhaul of the footballing establishment.
“"Hong Myung-bo, leave the football world forever"”
The intensity of the Red Devils' demands suggests that the 2026 World Cup failure is being viewed not as a tactical lapse, but as a systemic failure. By calling for Hong Myung-bo's permanent exile from the sport and targeting the KFA's 'deep-rooted evils,' the supporters are pushing for a purge of the existing footballing hierarchy to prevent future early exits.
