[ASIAN GAMES] 'Disappointing' as South Korean flag mishap sees Games end on sour note

South Korea’s football captain called the flag mishap at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games disappointing after South Korea beat Japan 1-0 in the final at Toyota Stadium near Nagoya on Saturday evening. Eom Ji-sung scored the only goal as South Korea won a fourth straight title. The ceremony drew boos from Korean fans after officials struggled to raise the flag properly. South Korean officials also criticized broader organizational problems at the Games.

Eom Ji-sung scored the only goal in South Korea’s 1-0 win over Japan in the men’s football final at Toyota Stadium near Nagoya.

The victory gave South Korea a fourth straight Asian Games men’s football title.

Captain Lee Gi-hyuk said the awards ceremony should have been a celebration and said it was disappointing that the flag was not properly unfurled.

South Korean media reported that the flag was eventually raised properly only after the national anthem ended.

Ryu Seung-min, president of the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee, said during the first week that he would give the organizers an F.

Published Oct 4, 2026 3:30 pm KST

Updated Oct 4, 2026 3:38 pm KST

South Korea's flag fails to be raised properly during the victory ceremony for the men's football tournament at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, Toyota Stadium, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Saturday. Yonhap

TOYOTA CITY, Japan — South Korea's Asian Games football captain called it "disappointing" after the country's flag appeared to get stuck during the victory ceremony following their win over hosts Japan.

Eom Ji-sung scored the only goal as South Korea won a fourth straight title with a 1-0 victory over Japan in the final at Toyota Stadium near Nagoya on Saturday evening.

However, footage of the victory ceremony afterwards showed ceremonial officials struggling to raise South Korea's flag on the flagpole, sparking boos from Korean fans.

"I believe an awards ceremony should be an occasion for celebration," said captain Lee Gi-hyuk, according to Yonhap News Agency.

"We worked so hard to get here, so it was disappointing that they couldn't even properly unfurl the flag.

"I imagine the players, as well as the fans who came all this way to support us, must have been unhappy about it too."

Gold medalist Eom Ji-sung, right, points toward the flagpole as South Korea's flag fails to be raised during the victory ceremony for the men's football tournament at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Toyota Stadium, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Saturday. Yonhap

According to South Korean media, the flag was eventually raised properly, but only after the national anthem ended.

The Games in Aichi-Nagoya, which close later Sunday, have been dogged by organisational issues over accommodation and transport.

South Korea were also victims of a mix-up when the national anthem for North Korea was played for the South's hockey team.

South Korean Olympic officials have been outspoken in their criticism of how the Games have been run.

Ryu Seung-min, president of the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee, said during the first week: "If I were to give them a grade, it would be an F."

韩国足球队队长在周六晚于名古屋丰田体育场举行的爱知-名古屋亚运会决赛中，对韩国队1比0战胜日本队的升旗失误表示失望。严智星打入全场唯一进球，帮助韩国队连续第四次夺得亚运会冠军。升旗仪式上，由于官员们在升旗过程中出现失误，现场韩国球迷发出嘘声。韩国官员也批评了本届亚运会组织方面存在的其他问题。

在名古屋附近的丰田体育场举行的男子足球决赛中，严智星打入了韩国队唯一进球，帮助韩国队以 1-0 战胜日本队。

这场胜利使韩国队连续第四次获得亚运会男足冠军。

李基赫上尉表示，颁奖典礼本应是一场庆祝活动，但国旗没有得到妥善展开，这令人失望。

韩国媒体报道称，直到国歌奏毕，国旗才最终正式升起。

韩国体育和奥林匹克委员会主席柳承敏在第一周就表示，他会给组织者打不及格。

发布于2026年10月4日下午3:30（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月4日下午3:38（韩国标准时间）

周六，在日本爱知县丰田体育场举行的2026年爱知-名古屋亚运会男子足球比赛颁奖仪式上，韩国国旗未能正常升起。（韩联社）

日本丰田市——在战胜东道主日本队后的颁奖仪式上，韩国国旗似乎卡住了，韩国队队长称这一情况“令人失望”。

周六晚，在名古屋附近的丰田体育场举行的决赛中，严智星打入全场唯一进球，帮助韩国队以 1-0 战胜日本队，连续第四次夺得世界杯冠军。

然而，随后的胜利仪式画面显示，礼仪官员们在升起韩国国旗时遇到了困难，引发了韩国球迷的嘘声。

据韩联社报道，李基赫上尉表示：“我认为颁奖典礼应该是一个庆祝的场合。”

“我们费了九牛二虎之力才来到这里，结果他们连国旗都不能好好展开，这太令人失望了。”

“我想球员们以及远道而来支持我们的球迷们，对此肯定也感到不满。”

周六，在日本爱知县丰田体育场举行的2026年爱知-名古屋亚运会男子足球比赛颁奖仪式上，韩国国旗未能升起，金牌得主严智星（右）指向旗杆。（韩联社）

据韩国媒体报道，国旗最终还是正常升起了，但那是在国歌奏毕之后。

在爱知县名古屋举行的奥运会将于周日晚些时候闭幕，但一直受到住宿和交通等组织问题的困扰。

韩国也曾遭遇过类似的混乱，当时韩国冰球队比赛时播放了朝鲜国歌。

韩国奥委会官员曾多次公开批评奥运会的组织方式。

韩国体育和奥林匹克委员会主席柳承敏在第一周表示：“如果让我给他们打分，那就是不及格。”