North Korean Anthem Blunder Confounds South Korea at Asian Games

On September 18, 2026, a significant error occurred at the 2026 Asian Games when organizers mistakenly played North Korea's national anthem instead of South Korea's before a men's hockey match against Bangladesh. The incident at Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium in Japan left South Korean players confused and sparked a formal protest from South Korean officials. As the teams lined up for the pre-match ceremonies, the North Korean anthem rang out over the loudspeakers. South Korean athletes appeared bewildered, with some standing at attention, others running their hands through their hair, and several placing their right hands over their hearts. The error was quickly identified, and a stadium announcer apologized, stating, "We are really sorry, terribly sorry. National anthem for the Republic of Korea, we played a different song." Following the apology, organizers played the Bangladeshi national anthem, and then the correct South Korean anthem. However, pressed for time, the referee instructed players to exchange greetings while the South Korean anthem was still playing. This forced the South Korean team to begin the match without being able to sing their anthem together.