South Korea flag fails to rise fully during anthem at Asian Games football ceremony
In short
South Korea's flag did not reach the top of the central pole while its national anthem played at the men's football medal ceremony at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Oct 3, and only rose after the anthem ended. Korea had just beaten host Japan 1-0 at Toyota Stadium for a fourth consecutive Asian Games men's football title. The cause has not been officially announced, and online posts have raised suspicions the delay was intentional.
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The South Korean flag failed to reach the top of the central pole during the medal ceremony for the men's football final at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, according to three Korean outlets. The ceremony was held on Oct 3 at Toyota Stadium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. As the national anthem played, the flag remained below the top; Asia Economy reported that it only rose after the anthem ended, and that boos came from the stands. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
South Korea had won the final 1-0 against host Japan. CBS NoCut News reported that Eom Ji-sung scored in the 16th minute of the second half for the team coached by Lee Min-sung. The win was South Korea's fourth consecutive Asian Games men's football title and its seventh gold in the event overall, and a third straight final victory over Japan, the outlet reported. Dong-A Ilbo described the result as the first four-in-a-row in the competition's men's football history. [ 2 , 3 ]
According to Asia Economy and CBS NoCut News, players receiving their medals pointed at the flagpole and appeared perplexed while officials at the pole seemed flustered, as if equipment had malfunctioned. CBS NoCut News reported that other flags were raised normally, leaving the Japanese flag in the highest position. [ 1 , 2 ]
CBS NoCut News said it has not been officially announced whether the failure was caused by a facility defect or by staff mishandling. The outlet reported that video of the scene spread online and that some netizens questioned how the staff member had handled the rope, suggesting intent, while no official finding of intent has been reported. [ 2 ]
Captain Lee Ki-hyuk told reporters, according to CBS NoCut News, that “if it was intentional, it is very bad,” adding that the ceremony was a place for congratulations and that it was a shame the flag could not be properly raised. Forward Lee Young-jun said that if it had been deliberate, it might have been, but that the team was fine because it stood at the top with the gold medal, the outlet reported. [ 2 ]
The ceremony incident followed other organisational problems at the Games. Asia Economy reported buses repeatedly going to the wrong place instead of venues or training sites, and said a North Korean anthem was played instead of South Korea's at a South Korean hockey match. CBS NoCut News reported that the team bus took a wrong route before the first group match and arrived 30 minutes late, and that the pitch condition was cited before the final. Dong-A Ilbo reported complaints about container housing and late or misdirected buses, and noted the tournament has kept producing controversy ahead of its closing ceremony. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The incident comes as the host's organisation of the Games is already being questioned, with Korean outlets cataloguing transport and ceremony problems ahead of the closing ceremony. Because no official explanation has been given, the flag episode is likely to keep drawing attention in Korea and, per CBS NoCut News, in Japanese online discussion. The football title itself extends Korea's run in the event.
Key facts
- South Korea beat host Japan 1-0 in the Asian Games men's football final on Oct 3 at Toyota Stadium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Eom Ji-sung scored the winning goal in the 16th minute of the second half for the team coached by Lee Min-sung, according to CBS NoCut News. [ 2 ]
- The win gave South Korea a fourth consecutive Asian Games men's football title and its seventh gold medal in the event overall, and a third straight final win over Japan. [ 2 , 3 ]
- During the anthem, the South Korean flag did not reach the top of the central pole and only rose after the anthem finished, with boos from the stands. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- CBS NoCut News reported that it has not been officially announced whether the failure was caused by a facility defect or by mishandling by staff. [ 2 ]
- CBS NoCut News reported that online posts of the scene led some netizens to question whether the staff member handled the rope improperly. [ 2 ]
- Captain Lee Ki-hyuk said that if the delay was intentional it would be “very bad” and that it was a shame the flag was not properly raised. [ 2 ]
- CBS NoCut News reported other organisational problems at the Games, including buses going to wrong locations and a North Korean anthem being played at a South Korean hockey match. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- South Korea beat Japan 1-0 in the men's football final on Oct 3 at Toyota Stadium in Aichi Prefecture. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The South Korean flag did not reach the top of the pole before the anthem ended, and spectators booed. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The title was South Korea's fourth consecutive Asian Games men's football gold, and a win over Japan in a third successive final. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The Games have drawn repeated complaints over organisation, including buses that went to the wrong places. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the flag-raising failure was a facility defect, staff error, or deliberate. CBS NoCut News said the cause has not been officially announced; the suggestion of intent comes from online speculation about video of the scene, not from an official finding.
- What happened at the men's hockey match referenced by Dong-A Ilbo on Sept 18. Dong-A Ilbo's text is cut off mid-sentence, and Asia Economy describes a North Korean anthem being played at a South Korean hockey match without giving the date or the outcome.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- South Korea beats Japan 1-0 in the men's football final at Toyota Stadium in Aichi Prefecture; during the medal ceremony the South Korean flag does not rise to the top of the pole while the anthem plays. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Asia Economy publishes its report on the ceremony, describing the flag failure, boos from the stands and other organisational incidents at the Games. [ 1 ]
- CBS NoCut News reports the incident with player quotes and notes online suspicions about the staff member's handling of the rope, saying the cause has not been officially announced. [ 2 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo reports the ceremony and notes the Games have kept drawing controversy ahead of the closing ceremony. [ 3 ]