NAGOYA, Japan — South Korean field hockey players were left confused Friday when North Korea’s national anthem was played instead of their own before the men’s field hockey match against Bangladesh at the Asian Games.
The South Korean players watched, not knowing how to react. Many South Korean musicians stood at attention, some ran their hands through their hair, and some pressed their right hand to their heart as the music played.
The organizers quickly corrected the problem and played the correct anthem.
South Korea won the match 5-0. The Asian Games officially open on Saturday.
South Korea’s Yonhap news agency called the situation an “embarrassing setback.”
“Standing with their hands to their hearts in front of the unfurled South Korean flag, the South Korean players could not hide their bewilderment,” Yonhap reported.
“Belatedly realizing the mistake, the organizing committee played the Bangladeshi national anthem first and then the South Korean anthem,” Yonhap added. “However, due to time constraints before the scheduled start of the match, the referee instructed the players to exchange greetings while the South Korean anthem was still playing, forcing the South Korean athletes to start the match without being able to sing the anthem.”
Some Asian Games matches were played before the official opening to accommodate a busy schedule with more than 11,000 athletes taking part – more than the Summer Olympics.
