South Korea makes complaint for introducing Olympic athletes as ‘North Korean’

The South Korean government made an official complaint to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for introducing the country as North Korea during the opening ceremony held on Friday in Paris, France.

The Korean national team takes part in the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic on July 26 in Paris, France. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

The South Korean government made an official complaint to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for introducing the country as North Korea during the opening ceremony held on Friday in Paris, France.

"We are regretful that the South Korean national team was introduced by the name of North Korea during the opening ceremony that took place on July 26, 2024," the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said in a statement on Saturday.

"The Second Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Jang Mi-ran has requested a meeting with IOC president Thomas Bach and also asked that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs make a strong appeal to France on a government level."

The Korean national team joined the boat parade as the 48th nation out of the 206 competing in this year's Olympic Games based on the French spelling of Korea, Corée, after Cook Island.

An apology posted on the Korean account for the Olympic committee on X, formerly known as Twitter, on July 27 [SCREEN CAPTURE]

The North Korean national team at the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony on July 26 in Paris, France [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

The announcer introduced Korea as the République populaire démocratique de corée in French and as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in English, which is the official name of North Korea, not South Korea. The formal name of South Korea is the République de corée in French and the Republic of Korea in English.

The digital signage placed along River Seine properly showed Republic of Korea in English, according to reports. North Korea was properly introduced by its name when it made its entrance as the 153rd team to do so.

IOC only made an apology through its Korean account on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Saturday, and not the official English account.

"We deeply apologize for the mistake that happened while we were introducing the national team of the Republic of Korea," read the post. No further explanations were given.

The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee will also file an official letter of complaint signed in the name of the chef de mission, according to the Culture Ministry.

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]