Asian Games Organizing Committee Apologizes After North Korean Anthem Played for South Korea

NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 19, 2026— The organizing committee of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games has formally apologized after North Korea’s national anthem was mistakenly played instead of South Korea’s before a men’s field hockey match on Friday.

The incident occurred at Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium before South Korea faced Bangladesh in a Group A preliminary-round match. When South Korea’s anthem was expected to play, the North Korean anthem was heard instead, leaving the South Korean players visibly confused.

Organizers Apologize to South Korean Delegation

The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) immediately lodged a formal complaint with the Asian Games organizing committee.

The Korean side asked organizers to explain how the mistake occurred and demanded an official apology, as well as measures to ensure that a similar incident would not happen again.

Later on Friday evening, at around 9 p.m., two officials from the Asian Games organizing committee visited the South Korean delegation's office and offered a formal apology.

The KSOC confirmed the visit on Saturday, saying the organizing committee had apologized for the error involving the national anthem.

Wrong Anthem Was Quickly Stopped

Before the match, both teams had lined up on the field for the traditional national anthem ceremony.

When the North Korean anthem began playing, South Korean players appeared startled. Some remained standing with their hands over their hearts, while others looked toward officials as they realized that the wrong anthem was being played.

The organizers stopped the music after recognizing the mistake.

Bangladesh's national anthem was then played, followed by South Korea's anthem. However, because the match was already running behind schedule, the ceremony became disjointed and the players were instructed to prepare for the start of the match.

South Korea ultimately defeated Bangladesh 5-0, meaning the incident did not prevent the team from securing a strong opening result.

South Korea Calls for Investigation

KSOC President Ryu Seung-min said the national anthem is a symbol of the country and that the incident should be treated seriously at an international multi-sport event.

He also said the Korean side would continue to ask the organizing committee to investigate the cause of the mistake and introduce measures to prevent a recurrence.

The organizing committee's apology came as the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games prepared for their official opening ceremony on Saturday.

The Games have already faced several logistical issues during their buildup, including complaints involving accommodation and transportation. Reuters reported that the organizers acknowledged operational difficulties surrounding the event.

Another Anthem Issue on Saturday

The controversy gained further attention on Saturday when South Korea's women's handball team began its Asian Games campaign against Hong Kong.

During the pre-match ceremony, neither team's national anthem was played. South Korea went on to win the match 48-16.

It was not immediately established that the second incident was directly connected to Friday's anthem mistake.

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games officially opened on Saturday and will continue through October 4. More than 11,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions are expected to compete across 43 sports.

For the organizing committee, the apology marks an immediate response to an embarrassing ceremony error, while the South Korean delegation is seeking clearer answers and assurances that national symbols will be handled correctly during the remainder of the Games.