IOC President Apologizes to South Korea for Paris Olympics Misnaming

The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC), headed by President Lee Kee-heung, announced that President Yoon Suk-yeol had a phone conversation with Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), regarding the incident where the South Korean team was incorrectly introduced at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.

President Yoon Suk-yeol had a phone conversation with President Bach at 1 PM local time in France (8 PM Korean time), with Lee Kee-heung, President of the KSOC and IOC member, Kim Jong-hoon, Honorary Ambassador of the KSOC, Etienne Thobois, CEO of the Paris Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games, and Yiannis Exarchos, CEO of OBS, in attendance.

President Bach conveyed to President Yoon that there is no excuse for the accident that occurred yesterday. On behalf of all Olympic officials, including the IOC, the 2024 Paris Olympic Organizing Committee, and broadcasting officials, he offered a sincere apology and asked the President to accept it.

President Bach also expressed his understanding and sympathy for the people of the Republic of Korea, noting that Germany, his home country, has historically experienced division. He promised to take measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.

President Yoon responded to the mistake at the opening ceremony by stating, "As the Republic of Korea has hosted the Winter Olympics and the World Cup soccer games, the public is very surprised and embarrassed by this incident." He expressed regret and repeatedly urged the IOC to provide appropriate explanations to the media and to make corrective efforts through social media and other channels.

Meanwhile, the IOC has decided to deliver an official letter of apology to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee on the 27th regarding the incident.