Japan has apologized to South Korea after a series of unusual problems affected the Korean team during the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
The problems included missing buses, training disruptions, an incorrect national anthem and a major mistake during the men’s football medal ceremony.
The Asian Games organizing committee eventually sent a formal apology to the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee.
A Bus Never Arrived
One of the first major problems happened to South Korea’s men’s basketball team.
On September 20, the team was scheduled to have a training session before its final against Japan. However, the bus assigned to the team never arrived.
Because of the transportation problem, the Korean team had to cancel its morning training session.
South Korea later defeated Japan and won the gold medal.
The organizing committee apologized for the transportation problem and said it would review its procedures.
The Wrong National Anthem Was Played
Transportation was not the only problem.
During a South Korean hockey match, the North Korean national anthem was played instead of South Korea’s anthem.
The mistake added to growing criticism of the event’s organization and protocol.
Other transportation problems also affected Korean athletes during the competition, including an incident involving the men’s volleyball team. Organizers later said incorrect guidance from on-site staff had caused that problem.
The Flag Failed During the Gold Medal Ceremony
The most embarrassing incident came after South Korea won the men’s football final.
South Korea defeated host Japan 1–0 on October 3 to win the gold medal.
But during the medal ceremony, the Korean national flag did not rise properly.
The Korean national anthem was played, but the Taegeukgi remained near the bottom of the flagpole. The flag finally reached the top only after the anthem was almost over.
The incident quickly spread online and became one of the most talked-about moments of the Games.
Why Did the Flag Get Stuck?
The organizing committee later explained what happened.
According to its investigation, the rope had been tied incorrectly. A knot became caught in the pulley at the top of the flagpole, preventing the flag from being raised normally.
The organizers said staff had failed to properly check the equipment before the ceremony.
They apologized to the Korean athletes, officials and the South Korean public.
Japan Officially Apologizes
After the Games ended, the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games organizing committee sent a formal apology to the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee.
The apology covered the flag incident as well as transportation and protocol problems experienced by the Korean delegation.
The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee said it would continue working with international sports organizations to improve conditions for athletes at future competitions.
More Than One Mistake
The problems were not limited to South Korea.
The 2026 Asian Games faced wider criticism over accommodation and transportation, partly because the number of participants increased to around 17,000, higher than originally expected.
Because the Games did not have a traditional central athletes’ village, participants were housed in hotels, temporary accommodation and even a cruise ship.
Japan’s Olympic Committee president also said organizers needed to reflect on the logistical problems and learn from them.
A Bigger Problem for the Asian Games?
The problems have also raised questions about the future of the Asian Games itself.
The Olympic Council of Asia has been discussing whether to change the timing of future Asian Games so that they can have a stronger connection with Olympic qualification.
The goal would be to encourage more top athletes to participate and make the competition more attractive to audiences and broadcasters.
For now, the Aichi-Nagoya Games have ended, but the unusual problems during the event may lead to a bigger discussion about how the Asian Games should be organized in the future.
Source: SPOTV News, October 9, 2026
Additional Sources: Yonhap News Agency, KBS World, Reuters
Category: Society
Published: October 9, 2026