The opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics witnessed a terrible gaffe as presenters introduced the South Korean delegation as North Korea as they floated down the River Seine.
When the South Korean delegation rode on a boat down the Seine and came into the spotlight, both the French and English announcers introduced them as the “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” the official name of North Korea. The broadcast subtitle, shown on the giant screens installed along the river and on TV, showed the correct name, which is “Republic of Korea.”
🇰🇷🇰🇵At the #Paris Olympics, during the passage of a boat on the Seine, the South #Korean team was mistakenly announced as representing North #Korea. South Korean officials have expressed a desire to meet with the #President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas… pic.twitter.com/VTKq8RbUSL
— Caliber English (@CaliberEnglish) July 27, 2024
When the North Korean delegation entered the parade as the 153rd nation, the presenters, however, identified them correctly as the “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.”
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued a “deep apology” on its Korean X account, admitting its mistake. The committee members reiterated their apology during a press conference later as well.
Olympic organisers apologise after the South Korean team was introduced as the ‘Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’ – the official name of North Korea. https://t.co/4nC567On68 pic.twitter.com/d4RMIzVeHZ
— Sky News (@SkyNews) July 27, 2024
South Korea has responded to this mishap rather strictly. On July 27, the South Korean sports ministry said that Jang Mi Ran, the second vice minister of sports who attended the ceremony in Paris, had asked the IOC to arrange a meeting with its President Thomas Bach over the incident. The country’s chef de mission or the top delegate, Jung Gang Sun, has also been directed to seek a quick response from the IOC.
The South Korean government has issued a statement expressing ‘regret’ that the country was introduced as ‘North Korea’ at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. https://t.co/DJmsJJ2W9A pic.twitter.com/MHGAOJJCwq
— Raphael Rashid (@koryodynasty) July 27, 2024
The sports ministry has also asked the foreign ministry to lodge a “strong complaint” with France on a government level.
The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee immediately asked the Paris organizing committee to prevent a recurrence of similar cases and will submit an official protest under our chef de mission. The committee will also meet with the IOC.
— Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
