South Korean football team faces flag ceremony error after Asian Games gold

During the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, the South Korean men's U-23 football team achieved a historic fourth consecutive gold medal after defeating host nation Japan 1-0 at Toyota Stadium. However, the victory was overshadowed by a significant operational error during the medal ceremony.

As the South Korean national anthem played, the South Korean flag failed to rise to the top of the flagpole, remaining near the bottom while the flags of silver medalist Japan and bronze medalist China were displayed normally. The flag was only raised properly after the anthem had concluded. This incident drew boos from the crowd and caused visible distress among the players.

Team captain Lee Ki-hyuk expressed disappointment, stating that the ceremony should be a time for celebration and noting that the failure to properly display the flag was disheartening for the players and fans. The incident has led to widespread criticism of the organizing committee's management, following other reported logistical issues during the games, such as transportation delays and incorrect national anthem playings.