The 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage ended with disappointment for South Korea, as the national team failed to secure a spot in the Round of 32 for the first time since 2018. The elimination triggered a wave of anger across the country. But instead of blaming the team’s performance or coaching strategies, some frustrated fans turned their fury toward an unlikely target: Jonathan Yiombi, a popular television personality originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Why Fans Blamed Jonathan for South Korea World Cup Exit
South Korea needed specific results from other groups to advance. The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s 3-1 win against Uzbekistan in Group K officially ended South Korea’s hopes. This match result knocked South Korea out of the top eight third-place rankings.
Some angry football fans flooded Jonathan’s social media pages with hateful comments. The attacks came solely because he holds Congolese citizenship, even though he has lived in South Korea since 2008. The malicious comments included demands like “Apologize to the Korean people,” “Deport him,” and questions such as “Weren’t you secretly cheering for Congo?” Others wrote “Because of you, we were eliminated” and “Why aren’t you posting an apology?”
Jonathan, who is 26 years old, moved to South Korea with his family as a refugee when he was eight. He has spent more of his life in South Korea than in his birth country and speaks Korean fluently. He has appeared on numerous variety shows and recently shared that he is waiting for the results of his South Korean naturalization test.
Netizens Defend Jonathan Against Unfair Attacks
Many South Korean internet users quickly condemned the online abuse directed at Jonathan. They defended him and criticized the unreasonable behavior of the attackers. Supporters left comments such as “What crime did Jonathan commit?” and “I don’t understand why they are taking their anger out on Jonathan.” Others wrote “We failed, so why is Jonathan being blamed?” and “It’s not Jonathan’s fault.”
One user stated:
“I feel ashamed and sorry. The result turned out this way because of our own problems. Why is Jonathan being blamed?”
Another added:
“It’s illogical to link the team’s failure to Jonathan.”
Some supporters even congratulated the Democratic Republic of the Congo on advancing to the next round. Others criticized the attackers for engaging in behavior that resembled racism and reminded them that Jonathan has shown deep love for Korea throughout his broadcasting career. One commenter said:
“This is embarrassing to be associated with such people. Don’t do anything that lowers the nation’s dignity.”
Jonathan’s Deep Connection to South Korea
Jonathan has publicly expressed his strong attachment to South Korea multiple times on television. He often calls himself a “Korean-Congolese” person and has shown eagerness to fully integrate into Korean society. He even stated he would not refuse mandatory military service after obtaining citizenship. His fluency in Korean and active participation in the entertainment industry made him a familiar face to the public.
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The attacks against him highlight how some people misdirected their sports disappointment into personal and discriminatory attacks. The South Korean national team, coached by Hong Myung-bo, finished third in their group with one win and two losses. This marked the team’s earliest exit from the World Cup in eight years.
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