North Korean anthem mistakenly played before South Korean match at Asian Games

On Friday, September 18, 2026, a diplomatic and procedural mishap occurred at the Asian Games in Gifu, Japan. Before the men's field hockey match between South Korea and Bangladesh, organizers at Green Stadium mistakenly played the national anthem of North Korea instead of that of the Republic of Korea. The South Korean players appeared visibly confused, with some standing at attention while others displayed visible unease, as the two nations remain technically at war since the 1950-1953 Korean War ended only with an armistice.

The stadium announcer issued a formal apology immediately following the error, describing the incident as a mistake. Despite the tension, South Korea proceeded to win the match with a decisive 5-0 score. The North Korean national anthem is strictly banned in South Korea as part of broader regulations regarding symbols of their northern neighbor.

This incident adds to a series of logistical and organizational complaints raised by the South Korean delegation during the current Asian Games. Athletes have previously reported issues regarding insufficient room sizes for basketball players and disruptive transport arrangements for the men's soccer team. The organizing committee has not yet provided an official statement regarding the anthem incident or the broader concerns raised by the South Korean representatives.