Use of the Korean Peninsula Flag with 'Dokdo Removed' Due to Japanese Protest During the Pyeongchang Olympics

Baek Hyunjin "Figure Skating Free Dance Music 'Hollo Arirang' with 'Dokdo' Lyrics Muted"

Provided by Bae Hyunjin, Office of the People Power Party

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Amid controversy over the Tokyo Olympics official website map depicting Dokdo as Japanese territory, it has been revealed that the Korean Peninsula flag used by the North-South unified team during the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics omitted Ulleungdo and Dokdo. This was possible because the government agreed to it at the time, and the list of signatories included the name of former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Do Jong-hwan, who is currently the chairman of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee.

According to the office of Bae Hyun-jin, a member of the People Power Party on the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, the Korean Peninsula flag used during the first evaluation match of the North-South unified team on February 4, 2018, included Dokdo and Ulleungdo. However, the next day, after the Japanese government protested that it could never accept a Korean Peninsula flag depicting Dokdo, Dokdo and Ulleungdo were removed. Subsequently, during the Pyeongchang Olympics, the uniforms worn by athletes and the Korean Peninsula flag did not include Ulleungdo or Dokdo.

At the full meeting of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee the previous day, Representative Bae stated, "The last page of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) agreement for the 2018 North-South unified team includes a Korean Peninsula flag without Dokdo and Ulleungdo," adding, "As a result, the North-South unified team athletes entered the main event holding the Korean Peninsula flag without Dokdo and Ulleungdo and competed."

Representative Bae then asked Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hwang Hee, "Because of the record of signing this agreement, isn't it difficult for you to protest when there are repeated outrageous remarks at the Tokyo Olympics now?" He added, "It makes me think that we laid the groundwork during the Pyeongchang Olympics. What do you think about this?" Minister Hwang replied, "That content is being used as a basis to claim that Dokdo should be removed."

As the questioning between Representative Bae and Minister Hwang continued, Do Jong-hwan, who was the head of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism at the time in 2018 and is currently the chairman of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, conducted additional questioning against Minister Hwang, stating that Dokdo had been absent from the Korean Peninsula flag since the formation of the unified team at the 1989 Beijing Asian Games.

Baek Hyun-jin, the newly appointed Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, is attending the first Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 14th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Representative Bae responded, "This is why I argued that the previous minister should not be the chairman," and criticized, "When we asked about the government's position earlier, shouldn't the chairman conduct the proceedings fairly between the ruling and opposition parties instead of explaining his personal stance?" When Chairman Do asked, "If questions arise, can't I provide supplementary questions?" Representative Bae replied, "This issue should be understood by current Minister Hwang and explained or justified to both ruling and opposition lawmakers."

Representative Bae cited the example of the lyrics about Dokdo being muted in the figure skating free dance music "Holo Arirang" performed by Min Yura and Gamlin at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, and criticized, "What position did the government take?"