During the short track awards ceremony for the women's 3000m relay at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, a misdesign of the South Korean flag was used, causing significant embarrassment. Upon noticing the error, the Korean Sports Council approached the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to rectify the situation, which led to an acknowledgment of the mistake and an official apology from the IOC. The improper flag design featured the central Taegeuk symbol tilted counterclockwise, which deviated from the official specifications that had been approved for the event.

The flag had been used in several awards ceremonies earlier in the week, including for the men's 1000m and 1500m events. The Korean Sports Council confirmed that they had submitted the proper specifications to the organizing committee prior to the events but discovered discrepancies in the flag representations used. Following the error, the council promptly lodged a complaint and made efforts to educate representatives from the IOC and the organizing committee about the differences between the incorrectly produced flag and the rightful one in accordance with the approved specifications.

In response to the concerns raised, the IOC and organizing committee pledged to rectify the issue by reprinting the accurate flag that adheres to the official specifications. Furthermore, the Korean Sports Council formally requested official apologies and assurances of preventive measures for all remaining ceremonies and related events, demonstrating a commitment to upholding national pride and ensuring that such mistakes do not repeat in the future.