Hong Myung-bo leaves for US two days after returning home: 'The story will come out someday'

Hong Myung-bo, the former South Korea national football team head coach who resigned after the team's group-stage elimination at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, departed for the United States just two days after returning home.

Hong flew out of Incheon International Airport to Los Angeles on Wednesday, according to MBC.

His family lives in Los Angeles. Before heading through the departure gate, Hong briefly spoke to MBC reporters at the airport. "I do have things to say, and the story will come out properly someday," he said.

The South Korea squad under Hong finished third in Group A at the World Cup with one win and two losses — three points — failing to advance to the round of 32.

Amid widespread public anger over the disappointing result, Hong had arrived back in South Korea with the main squad on June 30 but boarded a flight to the United States two days later.

Hong again denied reports of internal discord within the squad, which had been cited as one of the reasons for the group-stage exit. "There was absolutely no discord among the players as a whole," he said.

He also shrugged off speculation that Jens Castrop, who plays in Germany's Bundesliga, had been left out of the first two group-stage matches as a disciplinary measure. "There was nothing of the sort whatsoever," Hong said.

Asked whether he would attend a parliamentary hearing being pursued by politicians, Hong avoided a direct answer. "I don't know. I'm not sure when I'll be back in the country," he said.

A member of the Democratic Party of Korea's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee said Wednesday that a hearing on the Korea Football Association was likely to proceed.

Hong plans to rest in Los Angeles for now.