South Korea Seeks IOC Meeting Over Olympic Introduction Error

PARIS – The South Korean government has demanded a meeting with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach following a significant gaffe at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, where the South Korean team was mistakenly introduced as North Korea.

According to Philippines News Agency, the second vice minister of sports who was present at Friday’s ceremony, has formally requested a meeting with Bach to discuss the incident. Additionally, the country’s chef de mission, Jeong Gang-sun, has been instructed to seek an expedient response from both the IOC and the Paris organizing committee. “We also asked the foreign ministry to lodge a strong complaint with France on a government level,” added the sports ministry in a statement.

The error occurred when the South Korean delegation entered as the 48th nation during the parade of athletes, floating down the Seine River. The French-speaking announcer introduced them incorrectly as “Republique populaire democratique de Coree,” which was followed by “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” in English—the official name for North Korea. Although the broadcast subtitles correctly displayed “Republic of Korea,” the verbal misidentification led to confusion and embarrassment.

The IOC has apologized for the mix-up on its Korean-language X account, expressing deep regret for the mistake. However, no apology has yet been posted on its English-language social media platforms. The South Korean Olympic Committee has announced plans to submit an official protest and ensure measures are taken to prevent such errors in the future.