![A South Korean flag flutters near the athletes' village at Nagoya Port ahead of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. [Yonhap]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/09/18/rcv.YNA.20260917.PYH2026091715530001300_P1.jpg)
The organizing committee of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games made an embarrassing blunder ahead of South Korea's men's hockey team's opening match.
The men's hockey team, coached by head coach Min Tae-seok, played Bangladesh in their Group A opener Friday at Green Stadium in Kakamigahara, Gifu Prefecture, Japan.
When the two national anthems were played before the match, the stadium announcer introduced South Korea's anthem — but North Korea's anthem came over the speakers instead.
Organizers apologized on the spot, but then compounded the error by playing Bangladesh's anthem before South Korea's. The South Korean players did not hear their own anthem until after the pre-match formalities between both teams had concluded.
South Korea went on to defeat Bangladesh 5-0.
The match was scoreless when Bae Seong-min broke the deadlock at the 5-minute-20-second mark of the second quarter, with Oh Se-yong adding a second goal to make it 2-0. Lee Kang-san then scored just before the end of the second quarter.
Yang Ji-hun extended the lead with a long-range shot at the start of the third quarter, and Shim Jae-won sealed the victory with a field goal just before the end of the fourth quarter.
With three points, South Korea are on course for a second consecutive medal following their podium finish at the Hangzhou Games three years ago.
The men's hockey team are competing in Group A alongside India, the dominant force in the sport, and host nation Japan.
South Korea will face Indonesia in their second group match at the same venue at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.
min3654@heraldcorp.com
