A major diplomatic incident marred the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics on July 26, when South Korean athletes were mistakenly introduced as North Korean. The error occurred when the French-speaking announcer referred to the South Korean delegation as the ‘Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’, the official name of North Korea, while English subtitles correctly displayed ‘Republic of Korea’.The mistake immediately sparked strong reactions from South Korea, a country still technically at war with North Korea. The South Korean Sports Ministry expressed deep regret over the incident and demanded a meeting with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach to discuss the matter. Additionally, the ministry requested that the French government lodge a strong protest with the IOC.The IOC has since issued multiple apologies for what it termed a ‘regrettable operational mistake’. IOC representative Mark Adams stated, ‘We deeply apologize for this mistake. Apologies were made to the South Korean delegation in the evening.’ Furthermore, the IOC has announced that President Thomas Bach will personally speak with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to offer a direct apology.The incident has raised concerns about the potential for similar errors in the future. The South Korean Olympic Committee has demanded that the Paris 2024 organizers take measures to prevent such incidents from recurring. The committee’s Olympic Mission Chief, Jeong Gang-sun, stated that South Korea would submit a formal protest to the IOC.Interestingly, North Korea, which participated in the parade in alphabetical order according to the French alphabet, was correctly introduced. This contrast has further heightened the sensitivity of the situation.The mistake has underscored the ongoing tensions between North and South Korea and the importance of careful diplomatic handling in international sporting events. As the Olympics continue, all eyes will be on the organizers to ensure no further such incidents occur.
Key points
- South Korean athletes were mistakenly introduced as North Korean during the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
- The IOC has apologized multiple times and President Thomas Bach will personally apologize to South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.
- South Korea has demanded measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
- The incident has highlighted ongoing tensions between North and South Korea.
Contradictions👾While most sources report that the mistake occurred in both French and English announcements, one source states that the English subtitles correctly displayed ‘Republic of Korea’.
