Asian Games 2026: N. Korea anthem played at S. Korea hockey match, committee apologises
Synopsis
At the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, organisers played the North Korean anthem before South Korea's men's hockey match — a diplomatically charged blunder that drew an immediate formal complaint from the KSOC and a late-night apology from two Games officials. With Koreas relations as sensitive as ever, the incident is a reminder of how a clerical error in anthem management can become an international flashpoint.
Key Takeaways
The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games organising committee played the North Korean anthem instead of South Korea's before a men's hockey Pool A match against Bangladesh at Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium on 19 September 2026 .
The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) immediately lodged a formal complaint demanding an official apology and prevention of a recurrence.
Two officials from the organising committee visited the South Korean team office around 9 pm the same evening to deliver an official apology.
KSOC President Ryu Seung-min described the error as 'absolutely unacceptable' and called for a thorough investigation.
A similar anthem or flag mix-up involving the two Koreas occurred at the 2012 London Olympics , underscoring the diplomatic sensitivity of such errors.
The organising committee of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games has officially apologised after the North Korean national anthem was mistakenly played ahead of a South Korean men's hockey match in Gifu, Japan, on 19 September 2026. The embarrassing error, confirmed by the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC), occurred before Pool A fixture against Bangladesh at Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium.
How the Error Unfolded
Before the men's Pool A match against Bangladesh, organisers played the North Korean anthem in place of South Korea's. After the error was caught, Bangladesh's anthem was played, followed — belatedly — by the correct South Korean anthem. The sequence of events drew immediate outrage from the South Korean delegation present at the venue.
KSOC's Formal Complaint and Official Apology
The KSOC lodged an official complaint with the organising committee immediately after the incident, demanding a formal apology and guarantees that the error would not be repeated. According to a KSOC release, around 9 pm on the same evening, two officials from the Asian Games organising committee visited the South Korean team office and delivered an official apology for the anthem mix-up.
What the KSOC President Said
KSOC President Ryu Seung-min called the incident wholly unacceptable. 'It is absolutely unacceptable for the national anthem, a symbol of our nation, to be performed incorrectly at an international multisport event, and we view this matter with the utmost seriousness,' Ryu said. He added that the KSOC would 'continue to demand that the organizing committee thoroughly investigate the cause of this incident and implement measures to prevent its recurrence.' Ryu also stated that the KSOC would 'keep making efforts to help South Korean athletes focus entirely on their competitions without being distracted by issues unrelated to the games.'
Wider Context and Diplomatic Sensitivity
Confusing the anthems or flags of North Korea and South Korea at an international event carries significant diplomatic weight, given the two nations' decades-long division and fraught relations. This is not the first time such a mix-up has occurred at a major sports event — a similar incident at the 2012 London Olympics drew widespread condemnation when a North Korean women's football team was shown a South Korean flag on the stadium screen. Organisers at international multi-sport events are routinely expected to conduct rigorous anthem verification protocols precisely to avoid such flashpoints. The recurrence at Aichi-Nagoya will likely prompt questions about the adequacy of pre-match checks at this edition of the Asian Games.
What Happens Next
The organising committee is expected to conduct a formal investigation into how the wrong anthem file was cued. The KSOC has made clear it will monitor compliance closely for the remainder of South Korea's participation in the Games. Whether disciplinary action follows against event staff remains to be seen.
Point of View
But the damage to South Korea's delegation experience is already done. What mainstream coverage underplays is the systemic risk: major multi-sport events routinely outsource anthem cuing to venue-level staff with little redundancy checking. Until international sports bodies mandate a standardised, double-verified anthem protocol, these incidents will keep recurring — with North-South Korea cases carrying the heaviest geopolitical charge each time.
NationPress
19 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games hockey match?
The North Korean national anthem was mistakenly played before South Korea's men's hockey Pool A match against Bangladesh at Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium on 19 September 2026. Organisers later played Bangladesh's anthem and then the correct South Korean anthem.
How did South Korea respond to the anthem error?
The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) lodged an immediate formal complaint with the organising committee, demanding an official apology and measures to prevent a recurrence. Two Asian Games officials visited the South Korean team office around 9 pm the same evening to apologise.
What did KSOC President Ryu Seung-min say about the incident?
Ryu Seung-min called the error 'absolutely unacceptable,' saying the national anthem is a symbol of the nation and must be performed correctly at international events. He said the KSOC would continue demanding a thorough investigation and preventive measures.
Has this kind of anthem or flag mix-up happened before at major sports events?
Yes. A notable precedent occurred at the 2012 London Olympics, when a North Korean women's football team was shown a South Korean flag on the stadium screen, drawing widespread condemnation. Such errors involving the two Koreas carry heightened diplomatic sensitivity given their divided history.
What action is expected from the organising committee going forward?
The organising committee is expected to conduct a formal investigation into how the incorrect anthem file was cued. The KSOC has stated it will monitor compliance for the rest of South Korea's participation; whether disciplinary action follows for event staff has not yet been confirmed.
