'Even Hong Myung-bo, come on in': Struggling cafe's witty World Cup sign goes viral

A cafe's handwritten cardboard sign poking fun at former South Korea national team head coach Hong Myung-bo has gone viral, amid fierce backlash following the team's early exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

A post titled "A struggling cafe's latest update" has been spreading across online communities in recent days.

The post features a photo of a corrugated cardboard sign outside a cafe, with a handwritten message reading "Even Hong Myung-bo, come on in" — and a second sign below adding, "Come in, have a cup, and forget about it!!"

The sign has drawn praise for its clever use of the public mood surrounding Hong, who has faced a wave of criticism since South Korea's group-stage elimination at the 2026 North and Central America World Cup.

Hong has been under fire over his tactical decisions and player selections following the early exit. Soccer fans have since been circulating allegations about the Korea Football Association and the coach appointment process, along with parodies and memes.

Online commenters reacted with amusement, writing things like "Even funnier than a 'Hong Myung-bo banned' sign," "You can really feel the desperation — business must be rough," "Great marketing" and "Nice sense of humor."