South Korea Mistakenly Introduced as North Korea at 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony

During the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, a slip-up from the announcers occurred when South Korea’s athletes were mistakenly introduced as being from North Korea. This unexpected mix-up drew immediate attention and sparked reactions from both the athletes and viewers worldwide.

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How did it happen

Image credit: AFP

On Saturday, 27 Jul 2024, the South Korean team made their entrance by floating down the River Seine in Paris, France, waving their flags with enthusiasm. Then, both the French and English announcers introduced them as the “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” which is the official name of North Korea. Fortunately, the subtitles correctly displayed “Republic of Korea.”

This mistake was corrected later when the North Korean team was introduced using their official name.

The long-standing tensions between South Korea and North Korea would make this a sensitive matter to audiences. Moreover, these tensions have only escalated recently, with North Korea sending trash and poop balloons into South Korea.

The last time North Korea participated in the Olympics was during the Rio 2016 Games.

An official apology and public reactions

Following the incident, the South Korean sports ministry intends to lodge an official complaint with France at the government level. Jang Mi-ran, the 2008 Olympic weightlifting champion from South Korea, also called for a meeting with the Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach.

In response to this matter, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has issued an apology on its Korean-language X account, stating, “We would like to offer a deep apology over the mistake that occurred in the introduction of the South Korean delegation during the opening ceremony.”

Cultural highlights: BTS, kimchi, and hanbok

Besides the mixing up of names, South Korea was also introduced as the land of “BTS, kimchi, and hanbok.” This description highlighted some of the country’s most famous cultural exports that are popular abroad, and followed BTS member Jin’s participation in the Paris Olympics torch relay on 14 Jul 2024.

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Despite the hiccup, South Korea’s athletes continue to participate in the Games, showcasing their resilience and sporting spirit. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of  accuracy and respect in international events, especially when dealing with nations with complex histories.

Featured image credit: Pool via AP/Lee Jin-man