International scandal at the Olympics opening. The Republic of Korea has been confused with the DPRK

Yesterday in Paris, the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games took place. The ceremony was grand and featured many innovations. However, it was not without controversy, and it quickly became an international incident.

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According to Reuters, during the opening ceremony, the announcer introduced the representatives of the Republic of Korea as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. This mistake occurred twice, both in French and English.

This error elicited a strong reaction from the representatives of the Republic of Korea. South Korea's Deputy Minister of Sports and Culture, Jang Mi-ran, demanded a meeting with the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach.

The IOC promptly responded to this incident. Thomas Bach announced his intention to speak with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to offer an apology.

Additionally, IOC spokesperson Mark Adams issued an apology on behalf of the organization during today’s press conference:

"This is certainly deeply regrettable, and we offer our sincere apologies."

Given the tense political situation between the Republic of Korea and North Korea, this mistake could lead to a significant scandal. It is worth noting that when the representatives of North Korea were introduced as they sailed along the Seine, the announcer used the correct name of their country.