dexinwin NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 19, 2026— One day after South Korea’s national anthem was mistakenly replaced by North Korea’s at the Asian Games, another anthem-related mishap occurred on Saturday — this time, no anthem was played at all.
Before South Korea’s women’s handball team faced Hong Kong in its opening match at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, both teams lined up for the pre-match ceremony. However, neither South Korea’s national anthem nor Hong Kong’s anthem was played.
The organizers moved on to the next part of the ceremony, leaving players visibly confused. South Korea later won the match 48-16.
From the Wrong Anthem to No Anthem
The latest incident came less than 24 hours after another highly unusual mistake involving South Korea.
On Friday, before a men's field hockey match between South Korea and Bangladesh in Gifu, organizers mistakenly played North Korea’s national anthem instead of South Korea’s.
The South Korean players appeared confused as the music played. Organizers eventually corrected the mistake and played the Bangladeshi anthem followed by South Korea’s anthem, but the teams were already under time pressure and had to begin the match shortly afterward. South Korea went on to win 5-0.
The incident prompted a formal protest from the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC), which requested an official apology, an investigation into the cause and measures to prevent a repeat.
Two officials from the Asian Games organizing committee subsequently visited the South Korean delegation's office on Friday night and apologized for the mistake.
Second Anthem Incident Raises Questions
The second incident on Saturday immediately attracted attention because of its timing.
South Korea's women's handball coach Lee Kye-cheong said he had never experienced a situation in which a national anthem failed to play at an international competition.
The handball ceremony was not the only technical problem reported during the match. The scoreboard also displayed incorrect scores and timing information at various points, adding to the confusion surrounding the event.
However, there is no confirmed evidence that Saturday's anthem failure was directly caused by Friday's controversy. The two incidents should therefore be treated as separate operational mishaps unless organizers provide further information.
South Korea Wins Despite the Disruptions
The problems did not affect South Korea's performance on the court.
South Korea quickly established control against Hong Kong and eventually secured a 48-16 victory. Lee Won-jung scored nine goals, while Jeon Ji-yeon added eight.
South Korea, the Asian Games champion in 2014 and 2018, is seeking another medal in women's handball at Aichi-Nagoya. The team will continue its group-stage campaign against Kazakhstan on Sunday.
Organizers Under Pressure
The two consecutive anthem-related incidents have added to a growing list of organizational issues reported during the early days of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
The Games officially opened on Saturday, with more than 11,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions expected to compete. Some events began before the opening ceremony because of the packed schedule.
The organizing committee has already apologized for Friday's anthem mistake, while the latest handball incident has created another uncomfortable moment for event officials.
For athletes, however, the focus remains on competition. South Korea's teams have so far responded to the disruptions by continuing their matches, leaving the organizers to address questions over how similar problems can be prevented as the Games continue through October 4.
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