The International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued an apology after a significant error during the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, where the South Korean delegation was incorrectly introduced as representing North Korea.
During the ceremony, as the South Korean team sailed down the Seine River in Paris, they were mistakenly introduced with North Korea's official name: "Republique populaire democratique de Coree" in French, and "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" in English.
Notably, North Korea was introduced correctly during the ceremony.
In a statement on its official Korean-language social media account, the IOC apologized, saying, "We deeply apologize for the mistake that occurred when introducing the South Korean team during the broadcast of the opening ceremony."
The error sparked disappointment and concern in South Korea, a technologically advanced nation with a strong cultural presence, which remains technically at war with the North. The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee announced that the IOC's chief, Thomas Bach, expressed a desire to personally apologize to the President of South Korea.
South Korea's sports ministry also expressed regret over the incident, emphasizing the seriousness of introducing the South Korean delegation under North Korea's name. Second Vice Sports Minister Jang Mi-ran, a 2008 Olympic weightlifting champion, has requested a meeting with IOC President Bach to address the issue further.
The South Korean foreign ministry contacted the French embassy in Seoul, which described the mistake as "incomprehensible" and expressed regret over the incident.
Tensions between the two Koreas are currently high, with North Korea strengthening military ties with Russia and engaging in provocative actions, such as sending balloons with trash across the border. In response, South Korea has resumed broadcasting anti-regime messages and K-pop music across the border and conducted live-fire drills near the demilitarized zone.