"‘Hong Myungbo Banned from Entry’ Posted on Convenience Store Door... Headquarters Investigating Store Location"

Football Fans Say "It's Because of Team Performance"
GS Retail States "Store Has Not Been Identified"

As criticism continues to mount around the national football team following the conclusion of the final round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup, a notice posted at a GS25 convenience store, reading "Hong Myungbo is banned from entry," is drawing significant attention online.

A photo showing the phrase "Hong Myungbo is banned from entry" posted on the entrance door of a GS25 convenience store is becoming a hot topic in an online community. Photo by Jaehee Kwon

According to online communities and social networking services (SNS) on the 26th, a photo of a notice attached to the entrance door of a GS25 is spreading rapidly. The photo shows a message stating "Hong Myungbo is banned from entry," printed on an A4 sheet with the GS25 logo and affixed to the store's entrance.

The image has sparked a variety of reactions among football fans. Many interpret the notice as being aimed at Hong Myungbo, the head coach of the national football team, especially in light of the team’s recent performance.

The Korean national team suffered a 0-1 defeat against South Africa on the 25th. Even a draw would have secured second place in their group and a spot in the round of 32, but the loss pushed Korea down to third place, leaving their World Cup fate dependent on the outcomes of other teams’ matches. As a result, criticism of Coach Hong Myungbo's tactics and the team's performance has intensified. Online commenters have posted reactions such as, "He shouldn't just be banned from entering the store, but from entering the country," and "Where is this store? I want to support it with my money," among others.

However, it has not been confirmed whether the notice in the photo was actually targeting Coach Hong Myungbo.

GS Retail, the operator of GS25, has launched an investigation into the facts. A GS Retail representative stated, "It seems there was a misunderstanding because the paper, which we distributed for 1+1 promotions and similar events, was used. The headquarters is also trying to identify the store shown in the photo, but it has not been located yet. We are working to confirm the facts."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.