Korean Sport & Olympic Committee Removes 'Yi Sun-sin General' Banner at Japanese Olympic Village

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee has finally taken down the 'Admiral Yi Sun-sin' banner that was hung at the Tokyo Olympic Village apartments.

On the morning of the 17th, employees of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee removed the 'Admiral Yi Sun-sin' banners that were displayed on the residential floors of the Olympic Village apartments in the Harumi area of Chuo Ward, Tokyo, Japan.

The staff took down a total of eight banners, each bearing the phrase "God still has the support and cheers of 50 million people," one by one.

Earlier, ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, the Committee created the banners inspired by Admiral Yi Sun-sin's memorial to the king during the Imjin War, titled 'Sang-yu-sip-i Sun-sin bul-sa,' and hung them in the Olympic Village.

In response, Japanese media raised concerns, claiming there was a political motive, and on the 16th, a far-right group protested in front of the Korean Olympic Village waving the Rising Sun Flag, a symbol of Japanese imperialism.

As the controversy grew, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) visited the Korean team office and requested the removal of the banners. They also sent a letter reiterating that "the phrase quoted on the banners could evoke the image of a general participating in battle, thus violating Article 50 of the Olympic Charter, and must be removed."

In response, the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee explained the banner's wording and their position to the IOC, while strongly protesting the cheering with the Rising Sun Flag inside the stadium.

The IOC promised to apply Article 50 of the Olympic Charter to judge the use of the Rising Sun Flag at all Olympic venues, and the Committee reported that they mutually agreed to remove the Admiral Yi Sun-sin banners.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.