Japan Played North Korea’s National Anthem for South Korean Team
Japanese media outlet CocoKARA reported yet another unprecedented incident on September 19, sparking widespread discontent in South Korea.
The men’s field hockey group stage match between South Korea and Bangladesh in the Asian Games was held on September 18 at Kawasaki Heavy Industries Field in Gifu Prefecture.
During the national anthem segment, the South Korean team was caught off guard when North Korea’s national anthem unexpectedly played instead of their own. South Korea’s anthem was replaced by North Korea’s.
In a video uploaded by SBS Korea on YouTube, players appeared visibly stunned, with some displaying visibly strained expressions.
The stadium announcer immediately recognized the error and issued an apology in English: “Sorry. I played the wrong national anthem.” Although South Korea’s anthem was replayed before the match commenced, the team’s strong reaction was unavoidable.
Domestic outrage in South Korea quickly followed. Sports Chosun speculated that while national anthems are typically provided by respective delegations, this instance “may have resulted from human error during live playback.”
“We were waiting to hear our national anthem, waving our Taeguk flag—only for North Korea’s anthem to play,” one athlete reportedly said. “Why North Korea? Not another nation?”
A series of inexplicable errors has plagued the Nagoya Asian Games. A bus carrying the South Korean national football team arrived at the baseball stadium with no clear signage. The opening ceremony featured imagery associated with Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a historical figure linked to aggression against the Korean Peninsula. Accommodation containers for athletes leaked during rainstorms. These incidents have triggered intense criticism both domestically and internationally.
Additionally, several athletes were prevented from raising their national flag upon entering Nagoya International Airport.
Given the recurring nature of these incidents, South Korean media outlet OSEN filed a formal complaint, stating, “The responsibility lies with the Japanese organizing committee. Repeated missteps since the start of competition have surpassed the threshold of mere accidental errors.”
“For athletes who have trained for years to compete in the Asian Games, adapting to the environment and focusing on performance should be sufficient. Addressing logistical issues and ensuring athlete welfare fall under the purview of the organizing committee. The persistent failure in management is evident—and the label of ‘worst-ever Asian Games’ is gaining momentum.”
The Asian Games faced extensive criticism even before the opening. It is hoped that no further incidents will occur before the closing ceremony on October 4.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1876725786128707/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.