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North Korean anthem played for South Korea at Nagoya Asian Games

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games faced repeated anthem-related mistakes involving South Korean teams before the event fully opened. Organizers mistakenly played North Korea’s anthem before South Korea’s men’s hockey match against Bangladesh, prompting a formal protest and an in-person apology from organizing officials. The latest reports say another South Korea match, a women’s handball game against Hong Kong, went ahead without the anthems being played, adding to criticism of Games operations.

First reported Updated

Timeline

  1. Asian Games organizers played North Korea's anthem for South Korea before a men's hockey match

  2. Asian Games organizers apologize in person to South Korea over a mistaken anthem at a hockey match

  3. Asian Games organizers fail to play anthems before the South Korea-Hong Kong women’s handball match

Coverage

13 articles from 8 outlets

  • 三立新聞網

    亞運／連續出包！播成北韓國歌後「又消失」韓教練傻眼：太誇張

    The article says the 20th Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games has seen repeated mishaps: after organizers played North Korea's anthem before a South Korea men's hockey match, they then failed to play an anthem at a women's handball match. It cites a South Korean team coach blasting the errors as “too exaggerated” and saying he had never encountered an international match with no national anthem. The report also recounts Korean media criticism of cramped, leaking container lodging for South Korean basketball players.

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  • NOWnews今日新聞

    亞運大會又出包！不播放國歌就開始比賽 韓國教練氣炸：太荒唐了

    The article says the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games has suffered another “absurd” mishap before fully getting underway: after South Korea’s anthem was previously replaced with North Korea’s Choson anthem, neither anthem was played before the South Korea-Hong Kong women’s handball match. It quotes South Korea head coach Lee Gye-cheong calling it incomprehensible, and says the scoreboard and broadcast audio also repeatedly malfunctioned. The report also highlights anger over lodging shortages, quoting India delegation chief Sahdev Yadav saying organizers told teams to solve accommodation themselves, while Chinese media worry cruise-ship housing could affect athletes.

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  • 民視新聞網

    亞運男子曲棍球播錯國歌 南韓代表團遭放北韓歌曲主辦方致歉

    The article reports what it calls an outrageous mistake at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games: North Korea’s anthem was played as South Korea’s men’s hockey team lined up before a match against Bangladesh. It says organizers admitted the error, apologized to those affected, and said an official visited the Republic of Korea delegation to apologize. The article quotes South Korea coach Min Tae-seok saying this was a very serious problem and “something that absolutely should not happen.”

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  • 三立新聞網

    名古屋亞運問題不斷 誤播北韓國歌致歉、選手住宿也引不滿

    The article says problems at the Nagoya Asian Games continue, leading with organizers apologizing to the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee after the North Korean anthem was mistakenly played before a South Korea-Bangladesh men’s hockey match. It quotes committee president Ryu Seung-min saying such an error must never happen at an international multi-sport event. The report also highlights South Korean and Indian criticism of poor accommodation and transport, including a Korean basketball official calling the dorms the worst in history.

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  • TVBS新聞網

    日本道歉了！南韓隊賽前竟播「北韓國歌」 亞運籌委會：絕不該發生

    The article says the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games had another outrageous blunder before opening, as South Korea’s men’s hockey team was played North Korea’s anthem before facing Bangladesh. It quotes head coach Min Tae-seok calling it a very serious problem and saying this should never happen at an international multi-sport event. The report says South Korea filed a formal protest, after which two senior organizing committee officials visited that night to apologize and promise an investigation.

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  • 中天新聞網

    南韓出賽誤播北韓國歌 亞運組委會登門say sorry

    The article reports that before South Korea's men's hockey Group A match against Bangladesh on the 18th, organizers stunned people by playing North Korea's anthem instead of South Korea's. It says the South Korean side was dissatisfied, demanded an explanation and filed a formal protest. The article quotes Korean Sport & Olympic Committee president Ryu Seung-min calling the mistaken playing of the national symbol “Aegukga” something that absolutely should not happen, and says Asian Games organizers sent two officials that night to apologize in person.

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  • 鏡週刊

    名古屋亞運搞烏龍！南韓比賽播北韓國歌 教練氣炸抗議：根本就不應發生

    The article says the Nagoya Asian Games organizers made a major blunder during the men's hockey Group A preliminary between South Korea and Bangladesh, playing North Korea's anthem instead of South Korea's. It quotes South Korea coach Min Tae-seok angrily protesting that it was a very serious problem and “should never have happened,” while organizers apologized and said the anthem operator made a mistake. The report says South Korea’s sports delegation sent a protest letter demanding a formal apology and safeguards against a repeat.

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  • TVBS新聞網

    亞運／連續出包！南韓曲棍球比賽錯放「北韓國歌」 球員手放胸前急放下

    The article says the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games had another outrageous mistake after Taiwan Sports Minister Lee Yang was blocked from entering: before South Korea’s men’s hockey match against Bangladesh, organizers played North Korea’s anthem instead. It describes South Korean players lowering their hands from their chests in shock, then hearing Bangladesh’s anthem played by mistake before South Korea’s anthem finally played. The report says the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee has gathered evidence and is preparing a formal protest.

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  • 三立新聞網

    亞運／南韓國歌竟變北韓國歌！球員嚇爆放下手 主辦方急致歉

    The article reports an Asian Games blunder, citing ETtoday, saying South Korea’s men’s hockey team was stunned when North Korea’s anthem played before its match against Bangladesh. It says organizers stopped the music, apologized over the broadcast, and later played South Korea’s anthem, but the match began before it finished. The article quotes head coach Min Tae-seok saying it is hard to believe such a thing could happen at an international event, and links it to other recent Games-related operational controversies.

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  • 中天新聞網

    亞運/又爆離譜烏龍！南韓選手出場竟播「北韓國歌」嚇到放手 教練氣炸：根本不該發生

    The article says another outrageous blunder erupted at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games when organizers played North Korea’s anthem before South Korea’s men’s hockey match against Bangladesh. It reports South Korean players looked stunned, and that the venue apologized before eventually playing South Korea’s anthem. The article quotes South Korea coach Min Tae-seok calling it a very serious problem that “should never have happened,” while a South Korean Olympic Committee official says they are investigating what occurred.

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  • NOWnews今日新聞

    影／韓國快氣瘋！賽前竟播成北韓國歌 球員全傻眼：非亞奧運首例

    The article says South Korea was nearly driven mad after organizers played North Korea’s anthem before its Asian Games men’s hockey match against Bangladesh, then mistakenly played Bangladesh’s anthem after apologizing. It reports that the South Korean anthem was ultimately skipped because of time pressure, angering the South Korean delegation. The article quotes a Korean Sport & Olympic Committee source saying evidence has been collected and a formal protest will be filed with the Nagoya Asian Games organizing committee.

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  • 風傳媒

    名古屋亞運鬧出大烏龍！南韓出賽卻播放「北韓國歌」，選手傻眼超尷尬

    The article’s headline frames the incident as a major blunder at the Nagoya Asian Games, saying South Korea competed while the “North Korean national anthem” was played. It says the athletes were stunned and the situation was extremely awkward.

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  • Newtalk新聞

    不只李洋被擋！愛知名古屋亞運又出包 韓國賽前竟響起北韓國歌

    The article says the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games have run into controversies before opening, first with Taiwan Sports Minister Lee Yang being blocked by the OCA from a delegation flag-raising ceremony. It then cites Kyodo News saying organizers at the South Korea-Bangladesh men's hockey match mistakenly played North Korea's anthem instead of South Korea's. The report says MBC footage showed South Korean players looking confused and stiff before an English apology and the correct anthem was played.

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