Olympics mix-up: South Korean team confused for North Korean

PARIS: The Paris Olympics kicked off with a hilarious blunder as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) accidentally introduced the South Korean delegation as North Korean.

Talk about a diplomatic blunder!

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As the South Korean athletes cruised down the River Seine during the opening ceremony of Paris Olympics, the announcer made the ultimate goof. He called them the “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” which is, of course, North Korea’s official name.

And just for good measure, the announcer repeated the same mix-up when the actual North Korean team appeared. Cue the facepalms.

The blunder sparked outrage in South Korea, where pride runs high and diplomatic accuracy is no laughing matter. The IOC quickly issued an apology, promising to avoid future mix-ups. We guess their next checklist will include “double-check country names.”

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was reportedly “very shocked and embarrassed,” which is putting it mildly. It’s not every day you’re mistaken for your arch-rival during a global event.

The IOC President Thomas Bach personally called to apologise, likely sweating bullets over his next diplomatic call.

The Olympics Committee’s Spokesperson Mark Adams described the error as an “operational mistake”—which, in simpler terms, means someone really dropped the ball. Adams explained that with so many moving parts, mistakes happen.

In response, South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism expressed regret over the blunder. They’ve also asked the Foreign Ministry to file a “strong complaint” with the French government. It seems they’re not taking the mix-up lightly.

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For now, the South Korean athletes are probably laughing it off—once the embarrassment wears off, of course. Let’s hope the next introduction is as smooth as their routines, and the only mix-up is who gets the most medals!