Asian Games play wrong anthem for Korea
North Korean anthem played for South Korea at Asian Games
Saturday, 19 September 2026
Warm-up
- When do people play national anthems at events?
- Have you ever seen a mistake at a sports game? What happened?
- How should organisers fix a mistake during a match?
Vocabulary
- organiser
- a person or group that plans and runs an event
- anthem
- a country’s official song played at special times
- apologise
- to say you are sorry for a mistake or problem
- confused
- not sure what is happening or what to do
- announcer
- a person who gives information to a crowd by microphone
- protest
- to say strongly that you disagree with something
- ban
- to say something is not allowed by law or rule
- stranded
- unable to leave a place because you have no way to travel
Reading
At the Asian Games in Japan, organisers apologised after the wrong song was played for South Korea's men's hockey team. The North Korean national anthem was played by mistake, and the players looked confused.
South Korea had just thrashed Bangladesh 5-0. After the error, Bangladesh's anthem played, and then South Korea's real anthem. A stadium announcer apologised for the mistake, and the team protested to staff, their coach Min Tae-seok said.
North Korea's anthem and other symbols are banned in South Korea.
Before the Games, some teams complained about accommodation. A South Korea basketball player posted a video of a leaking pipe and a soaked floor, saying "Please help me." Some teams were stranded at the airport for up to six hours. Field hockey runs until 3 October.
Comprehension
- Where did the mistake happen?
- Which anthem was played for South Korea by mistake?
- What was the score against Bangladesh?
- What played after the error before South Korea’s anthem?
- Until when does field hockey run at the Games?
Grammar focus
Comparative adjectives
Use -er or more + adjective to compare two things. Use -er for short adjectives (smaller) and more + adjective for longer ones (more confused). (Examples constructed.)
- Players looked **more confused** than before.
- The accommodation was **smaller** than expected.
Grammar exercise
Circle the correct option in each sentence.
- Organisers said the apology was (sincere / more sincere) than before.
- The airport wait was (more frustrating / most frustrating) than usual for visitors.
- The changing rooms were (smallest / smaller) than other venues.
- Visitors found the hotel (cleanest / cleaner) after repairs.
- After the anthem mistake, the team seemed (more upset / most upset) than fans.
Discussion
- How would you feel if your country’s anthem was wrong? Why?
- Why are anthems and flags important at sports events?
- What can organisers do to avoid mistakes like this?
- Have you had travel or hotel problems at events? What happened?
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