Olympic organizers have issued a heartfelt apology following a major blunder which occurred during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics on Friday. South Korea’s athletes were mistakenly introduced as the North Koreans and this naturally led to a moment of confusion and embarrassment.
During the highly anticipated opening ceremony, South Korea‘s team, adorned with their flags and full of enthusiasm, floated down the River Seine. To the dismay of many, both French and English announcers referred to them as the “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” which is the official designation for North Korea, the BBC reported. This error was compounded when North Korea’s own delegation later sailed by, and their introduction used the same name—this time correctly.
Although the television broadcast’s subtitle correctly identified them, the announcers’ verbal introduction caused confusion. The mix-up has been particularly sensitive given the long-standing division between North and South Korea, a separation that dates back to the end of World War II. Recent years have seen heightened tensions between the two nations, making accurate representation in international events even more crucial.
In the aftermath of the error, the organizers are working diligently to address the situation and prevent similar incidents from occurring. South Korea’s sports ministry has announced plans to file a “strong complaint with the French government” regarding this mishap. The ministry issued a statement expressing “regret over the announcement” and criticized the incorrect introduction of the South Korean delegation as the North Korean team. The second vice sports minister, Jang Mi-ran, a 2008 Olympic weightlifting champion, has requested a meeting with IOC President Thomas Bach to address the issue directly.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has apologized for the error on its official Korean-language X account, acknowledging the mistake and offering a “deep apology” for the confusion caused during the ceremony.