Organizing committee apologizes for playing N. Korean anthem at S. Korean hockey match

NAGOYA, Japan — The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games organizing committee has expressed regret for inadvertently playing the North Korean anthem prior to a South Korean hockey game, according to the South Korean sports governing body. On Friday, at Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium in Gifu, Japan, the North Korean anthem was played instead of the South Korean national anthem during the men's Pool A match against Bangladesh.

Following the mistake, the match organizers proceeded to play the Bangladeshi anthem before transitioning to the South Korean anthem.

The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) lodged an official complaint with the organizing committee about the anthem mix-up, demanding an apology and measures to prevent a repeat occurrence. Approximately nine o'clock in the evening on the same day, two representatives from the Asian Games organizing committee visited the South Korean team office and apologized for the error.

KSOC President Ryu Seung-min stated that the KSOC will continue to work to ensure that South Korean athletes can concentrate solely on their competitions without distraction.