North Korean Anthem Played Before South Korea’s Hockey Match at the 2026 Asian Games

During the Group A men’s field-hockey preliminary match between South Korea and Bangladesh at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, the organizers mistakenly broadcast North Korea’s national anthem instead of South Korea’s “Aegukga.” Players stood at attention, some with their hands over their hearts, before realizing the error. The stadium announcer quickly apologized, halted the North Korean anthem, and then played Bangladesh’s anthem followed by South Korea’s anthem as the teams exchanged greetings. South Korea subsequently defeated Bangladesh 5–0.

North Korean Anthem Played Instead of South Korea's at Asian Games Al Jazeera (website)Asian Games plays North Korean anthem before South Korea hockey match

The Asian Games, featuring more than 11,000 athletes, began a day earlier than the official opening to accommodate a crowded schedule. National anthems are traditionally played before each match, a protocol that carries heightened sensitivity for the Korean peninsula, where the 1950-1953 Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty. North Korean symbols, including its anthem, are banned in South Korea. The incident follows a series of organizational problems reported by South Korean delegations, ranging from accommodation issues to transportation delays.

Asian Games plays North Korean anthem before South Korea hockey match

The committee also noted that it had collected video evidence to confirm the mistake. Yonhap News Agency described the episode as an “awkward mishap” and reported that the referee instructed players to exchange greetings while the incorrect anthem was still playing, forcing the South Korean athletes to start the match without being able to sing their anthem.

They're not playing our song! North Korean anthem played at South Korean hockey match

KSOC officials criticized the organizing committee for the “error” and for failing to prevent a recurrence, labeling the incident as part of a broader pattern of mishaps that includes transportation glitches and accommodation shortcomings. SBS reported that local police blocked the South Korean delegation from displaying the Taegeukgi (South Korean flag) at the athletes’ village, prompting KSOC officials to lodge a “strong protest” over the restriction. The same report highlighted additional controversies, such as the appearance of a Toyotomi Hideyoshi costume—symbolic of Japan’s historic invasions of Korea—at a welcome event, further fueling diplomatic friction.

Asian Games plays North Korean anthem before South Korea hockey match

• Final score: South Korea 5, Bangladesh 0.

Al Jazeera (website)

• Goal scorers for South Korea: Sim Jae-won, Lee Gang-san, Oh Se-yong, Bae Soung-min, Yang Ji-hun (one each).

Korean men’s and women’s hockey teams open Asian Games with wins

• The Asian Games involve over 11,000 athletes, surpassing the participant count of a typical Summer Olympics.

Bozeman Daily Chronicle

Sources differ on the precise sequence of anthem playback. Yonhap (cited by ABC News) reports that the Bangladesh anthem was played first, followed by the South Korean anthem, whereas SBS notes a two-minute silence after the North Korean anthem before Bangladesh’s anthem was played, with the South Korean anthem finally sounding as both teams moved into position. No source provides a definitive timeline of the three anthems, leaving the exact order unclear.

North Korean Anthem Played Instead of South Korea's at Asian Games

• “Our officials stepped in and lodged a strong protest, but the local police did not back down, so we ultimately could not hold the Taegeukgi,” — Committee

National Anthem Error in Asian Games Hockey: North Korean Anthem Played Instead of South Korea's

The incident underscores the logistical challenges of staging a multi-nation event and the heightened political sensitivities surrounding Korean inter-state symbols. KSOC’s demand for a formal apology and procedural safeguards reflects broader concerns about the Games’ organizational competence and the need for respect of national protocols.

North Korean Anthem Played Instead of South Korea's at Asian Games