{
  "id": 4217341,
  "title": "High notes, salutes and protests: Why national anthems spark controversy in sports",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/high-notes-salutes-and-protests-why-national-anthems-spark-4217341",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-29T15:27:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/sports/20260830/high-notes-salutes-and-protests-why-national-anthems-spark-controversy-in-sports"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The national anthem, “Aegukga,” has fueled controversy during sporting events in Korea. On May 16, singer Eom Ji-young sparked criticism with her rendition of the anthem at a game between the NC Dinos and the Kiwoom Heroes. Eom's performance, which included high notes and vocal flourishes, deviated from the traditional style. The video of her singing went viral, leading to accusations that she had compromised the anthem's essence and purity. Eom later apologized for her performance.\n\nNational ceremonies at Korean baseball stadiums have been a frequent source of controversy. In 2017, during the World Baseball Classic, player Kim Tae-kyun faced criticism for saluting during the national anthem. Kim's action mirrored that of Lee Dae-eun, a member of the Korean Police Baseball Team, who was standing alone and saluting. Kim later issued an apology on his YouTube channel, explaining that he had not fully grasped the exact meaning of the salute and had merely followed Lee out of sympathy for his teammate. These incidents highlight the potential for national anthems and ceremonies to incite controversy in sports, prompting individuals to apologize and clarify their actions.",
  "summary": "During a game bewteen the NC Dinos and the Kiwoom Heroes at Changwon NC Park on May 16, singer Eom Ji-young drew considerable controversy with her rendition of the national anthem, “Aegukga.” Unlike the conventional style of singing the anthem, Eom incorporated high notes and various vocal flourishes. A video of her performance quickly spread online, prompting criticism that she had undermined…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "High notes, salutes and protests: Why national anthems spark controversy in sports",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/high-notes-salutes-and-protests-why-national-anthems-spark",
        "published": "2026-08-29T15:22:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}