JTBC has apologized for mistakenly broadcasting the Rising Sun Flag during the Korea-Japan women's curling match, confirming it was an unintentional error.
During the live coverage of the women's curling round-robin match between South Korea and Japan for the 2026 Winter Olympics on JTBC, a graphics error occurred where the Rising Sun Flag was shown on screen for about ten seconds. This incident took place after the fifth end of the match on the night of the 15th, which prompted immediate response from the broadcaster. The announcer, Seung-Hyun Sung, addressed the mistake before the start of the sixth end, acknowledging that it was an unexpected occurrence that should not have happened and offered their apologies.
In a follow-up statement, JTBC confirmed that the Rising Sun Flag graphic was displayed during a commercial segment unrelated to the game's content. They expressed their remorse for the oversight and highlighted their commitment to ensuring that such an incident does not happen again. This has significant cultural implications given the contentious history between South Korea and Japan, particularly concerning symbols associated with Japan's imperial past.
On the sports front, despite the controversy, the South Korean women's curling team triumphed over Japan with a score of 7-5, improving their record to 3 wins and 2 losses. They are now tied for fourth place with Denmark, while Japan sits at the bottom with a 1 win and 4 losses record. The South Korean team's next match is against China, scheduled for the early hours of the 17th, signifying the ongoing competitive spirit within the curling tournament.
