The Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee, in conjunction
with the Incheon Public Security Department on September 15th, set the final
terms for displays of the North Korean flag at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.
South Korean citizens are banned from possessing the flag,
which may only be displayed within the confines of the sports arenas during
matches, and is also prohibited within the athletes’ village or other outside
areas.
However, North Korean athletes and officials are permitted
to fly the flag for cheering purposes,but only within the stadium while games or awards ceremonies relevant
to the North are underway.
On September 10th, protests by a conservative South Korean
group outside of the stadium in Goyang City first sparked controversy over
displays of the flag. While the Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee gave no official
reason for its decision to allow national flags only inside game venues, fears
that the North Korean flag would be vandalized by these types of groups is thought to have
prompted the decision.
Meanwhile, during the 2002 Busan Asian Games and the 2003
2003 Daegu Universiade Games diplays of the North Korean flag were allowed on a
restricted basis
