South Korea has expressed regret after its delegation of athletes was mistakenly introduced as being from North Korea during the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on Friday. The country has demanded assurances from the organizers that such a mistake will not happen again.
As the boat carrying the South Korean athletes passed on the Seine, the announcer introduced them as the “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” – the official name of North Korea – in both French and English. The same introduction was used for the North Korean delegation.
South Korea’s Vice Minister for Sports and Culture, Jang Mi-ran, who was present in Paris, requested a meeting with International Olympics Committee President Thomas Bach to address the issue, according to a statement from the ministry.
“We express regret that the country was introduced as North Korea at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games when the athletes of the Republic of Korea were entering,” the statement said.
South Korea’s National Olympic Committee immediately referred the incident to the Games’ organizers and requested assurances that the error will not be repeated.
South Korea’s delegation includes 143 athletes competing in 21 events. North Korea, returning to the Games for the first time since Rio 2016, has sent 16 athletes.
