North Korean Athletes Could Be Punished For Taking Olympic Selfie With South Korean Team
The mixed-doubles table tennis pair were criticised for smiling with the South Korean team.
By Celine Low — 23 Aug 2024, 09:37 AM
It is reported that North Korean athletes who posed for a selfie with the South Korean and Chinese teams at the Paris Olympics have been undergoing ideological evaluations in Pyongyang
According to a high-ranking source cited by Daily NK, the North Korean Olympic Committee delegation and athletes have been subjected to these reviews since returning to their home country on 15 August.
Daily NK reported that North Korean table tennis players Lee Jeong-sik and Kim Geum-yong were criticised for their behaviours after they took a selfie with fellow medalists from China and South Korea, whom the secluded country considers their "principle enemy".
The viral selfie, hailed as a symbol of the "true Olympic spirit" by the rest of the world, was one of the most talked about moments from the Paris Olympics
However, the act by Kim and Lee drew negative attention from the North Korean government, including when Kim smiled for the selfie and when Lee was observed smiling at the other athletes after coming down from the podium.
Prior to the Olympics, North Korean athletes were reportedly instructed to avoid contact with foreign athletes, including those from South Korea.
In North Korea, athletes participating in international competitions are subjected to a three-stage post-event ideological review
The review is conducted by the Central Party, the Ministry of Sports, and their respective organisations, which analyses the athletes' behaviour from departure to return, aiming to "cleanse" the athletes' ideologies of any non-socialist culture during their time abroad.
If any actions are found to conflict with party policies, athletes may face punishment. However, Daily NK clarified that "it remains to be seen whether the North Korean authorities will actually punish them or end the matter with relatively light criticism such as a warning or self-reflection."
A similar situation also occurred during the 2016 Rio Olympics when a selfie featuring South Korean gymnast Lee Eun-ju and North Korean gymnast Hong Un-jong went viral on social media.
There were plenty of speculations that suggested Hong would face reprisal from her home country. However, BBC reported that analysts beg to differ as the North Korean gymnast was also photographed hugging American gymnast Simone Biles at an international competition in 2014 and was allowed to compete at the 2016 Olympics.
