(ATTENTION: Title and abstract have been updated with the most recent information)
PARIS, July 27 (Yonhap) — The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has apologized for “an operational error” after South Korea was introduced as North Korea during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.
IOC spokesman Mark Adams called the error “clearly and deeply regrettable.”
“We sincerely apologize,” Adams said during an IOC press conference on Saturday, less than 24 hours after the incident during the ceremony on the River Seine. “An operational error was made. We can only apologize, on a night when so much was at stake, for having made this mistake.”
South Korea’s delegation to the Paris Olympics sails on a boat on the Seine River during the opening ceremony on July 26, 2024. (Yonhap)
As the South Korean delegation floated downriver on Friday as the 48th nation, the French-speaking announcer said over the public address system: “Republique populaire democratique de Coree,” followed by the announcement in English: “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” which is North Korea’s official English designation.
The subtitle on the broadcast, shown on giant screens along the Seine and on television for international viewers, correctly displayed “Republic of Korea” – the official name of South Korea – in English.
North Korea was correctly identified as the 153rd nation when it entered the parade, based on the French alphabetical order.
Earlier in the day, the Korean Olympic and Sport Committee said IOC President Thomas Bach had offered to call South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, with KSOC chief Lee Kee-heung present, to apologize for the mistake, and also to meet with KSOC chief Lee Kee-heung and South Korean Vice Sports Minister Jang Mi-ran.
Lee, who is also an IOC member, requested an official written apology from the IOC before Bach called Yoon, according to KSOC. The IOC then told the South Korean committee that it would do so.
South Korea’s sports ministry said early Saturday that Jang had asked the IOC for a meeting with Bach.
The KSOC said the Paris organising committee had offered an apology and promised that its chief, Tony Estanguet, would deliver an apology in person later in the day.
South Korea’s foreign ministry said it had contacted the French embassy in Seoul to express its regret. The embassy apologized for “an incomprehensible mistake” and promised to ask the Olympic organizing committee to prevent a repeat.
A few hours after the opening ceremony, the IOC posted an apology on its official Korean-language X account, saying: “We would like to deeply apologize for the mistake that occurred in the introduction of the South Korean delegation during the opening ceremony.” The IOC did not post an apology on its English-language social media account.
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