Some players did not even notice the mistake. North Korean anthem unexpectedly played before South Korea match

Organizers of the Asian Games in Aichi and Nagoya apologized for a bizarre mistake before the field hockey match between the South Korean and Bangladeshi national teams. Instead of South Korea's national anthem, the anthem of North Korea was unexpectedly played before the match.

The South Korean players had already lined up on the field when the organizers played the completely wrong anthem, yet some players placed their hands over their hearts without realizing what had happened. Bangladesh's anthem was then played, followed finally by the correct South Korean anthem.

The Korean Sport and Olympic Committee promptly filed an official complaint with the organizers, demanding an explanation and measures to prevent a similar mistake from happening again. That same evening, two representatives of the organizing committee personally visited the South Korean delegation's office and offered an official apology.

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KSOС President Ryu Seung-min said that such a mistake was unacceptable, as a national anthem is a symbol of a country. The organizers promised to determine the cause of the incident and take measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.