During a Friday fixture at the Asian Games in Gifu, Japan, the South Korean men’s hockey team experienced a bewildering moment when organizers played the North Korean national anthem instead of their own. As the players stood on the field at Green Stadium, they appeared visibly confused while the anthem echoed throughout the venue.
The stadium announcer issued an immediate apology following the error, stating, “We are really sorry, terribly sorry. National anthem for the Republic of Korea, we played a different song.” Despite this prompt acknowledgment, the Asian Games organizing committee did not provide an immediate statement regarding the blunder.
This incident is particularly sensitive given that the North Korean national anthem and other related symbols are prohibited in South Korea. The two nations remain technically at war, as the 1950-1953 Korean War concluded with an armistice rather than a formal peace treaty.
This is not the first reported issue at this year’s games. The South Korean delegation has already raised concerns regarding various logistical challenges, including complaints from basketball players about cramped accommodation sizes and transport disruptions that have hindered the preparations of the defending champion men’s football team.
