'We are truly sorry, we sincerely apologize' AG Organizing Committee visits Korean delegation's office on the 18th to apologize after unprecedented incident of 'North Korea anthem played instead of national anthem'

*This content was translated by AI.

An unprecedented accident occurred at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games venue where the North Korea anthem was played instead of the national anthem, prompting the Games organizing committee to visit the Korean delegation's office directly and issue a formal apology.

The Korean Olympic Committee (President Yoo Seung-min) announced on the 18th that an error occurred just before the start of the men's field hockey Group A match between South Korea and Bangladesh at Gifu Green Stadium in Gifu Prefecture, Japan, where the North Korea anthem was mistakenly broadcast instead of the Republic of Korea national anthem.

Immediately following the incident, the Korean delegation demanded an immediate explanation of the circumstances from the organizing committee and sent a formal letter of protest under the name of delegation leader Lee Sang-hyun. Through the letter, the delegation strongly urged the organizing committee to issue a formal apology at the organizational level, conduct a thorough investigation into the cause, and establish measures to prevent recurrence.

In response, two officials from the Asian Games organizing committee, including the director in charge of participating countries, visited the Korean delegation's office around 9 p.m. that day, bowed their heads, and conveyed an official apology for the national anthem playing error.

The Korean delegation had previously protested to the organizing committee regarding the 'Toyotomi Hideyoshi-related performance' incident by visiting them in person and delivering a formal letter of protest. The delegation expressed deep regret over the series of inappropriate incidents occurring around the time of the Games opening.

Yoo Seung-min, President of the Korean Olympic Committee, stated, "The playing of the national anthem, a symbol of the nation, incorrectly is something that must never happen at an international multi-sport event, and we are treating this matter with extreme seriousness." He added, "Above all, we will do our utmost to protect and support our athletes so they can focus entirely on their competition without being shaken by external issues," and emphasized, "We will continue to demand that the organizing committee conduct a thorough investigation into the cause and implement measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring."

The Korean Olympic Committee has set the protection of the rights and honor of the Korean delegation for the remainder of the Games as its top priority and plans to actively respond to major issues arising throughout competition and event operations.

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*This content was translated by AI.