Asian Games Blunder: North Korean Anthem Played for South Korea
What Happened
An embarrassing error occurred before South Korea's men's hockey match against Bangladesh at the Asian Games 2026 when organisers mistakenly played North Korea's national anthem instead of South Korea's. The mistake was quickly corrected and an apology was announced over the stadium speakers, but the mix-up left South Korean players visibly confused before the match. South Korea later defeated Bangladesh 5-0.
Key Takeaways
What might have been a routine organisational error gained extra sensitivity because North and South Korea remain technically at war, and North Korea's anthem is banned in South Korea. The incident has added to criticism of organisational issues at the Games and could prompt a formal protest from South Korean officials.