"Let's Get It Right"… North Korean Athletes Flare Up at Northern Side Following North Korea

Expressing Discomfort with the Terms 'Bukhan' and 'Bukcheuk'

The North Korean delegation participating in the '2022 Hangzhou Asian Games' took offense at the use of terms like 'North Korea' and 'the North'.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

After winning the quarterfinal match against South Korea on the afternoon of the 30th of last month at the Wenzhou Sports Center Stadium in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, North Korean women's soccer team coach Ryu Il expressed objection when a South Korean reporter referred to them as "the North".

Coach Ryu firmly stated, "Not 'the North', but the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," adding, "Let's get that right."

On the 30th of last month, Ri Yu-il, the head coach of the North Korean women's soccer team, is answering questions from the press. [Image source=Yonhap News]

There was another instance in this tournament where the North Korean side requested correction regarding their country's name. After the women's basketball match between North and South on the 29th of last month, during the press conference following North Korea's defeat, when a reporter used the term "North Korea" while questioning North Korean women's basketball team coach Jeong Seong-sim, a North Korean official objected.

The official said, "We are 'DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)'. Do not call us 'North Korea'. That is not appropriate. You must call us by the correct name."

It is common for North Korea to request to be referred to as the 'Democratic People's Republic of Korea' in international competitions. Since the term 'North Korea' is based on a South Korean perspective, North Korea finds it uncomfortable.

Therefore, during inter-Korean talks or events such as reunions of separated families, South Korean media have typically used the term 'the North'. Until now, North Korea had not strongly objected to the term 'the North', but in this tournament, they expressed strong dissatisfaction even with that.

This behavior by the North Korean side appears to be influenced by the recent rapid deterioration of inter-Korean relations. It is reported that the North Korean delegation showed a cold attitude not only toward the press but also toward South Korean athletes with whom they had previously established friendly relations through the 'Unified Team' initiative.

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