Evidence of sport’s power to unify individuals, even those residing across one of the world’s most militarised divides, was witnessed by many observers. However, what was heralded as one of the highlight moments of the Paris Olympics – a selfie featuring medal-honoured table tennis players from both North and South Korea – may have led to difficulties for the North Korean participants back in their homeland.
In an unprecedented instance of sporting diplomacy reflective of the Korean context, South Korean table tennis partners Lim Jong-hoon and Shin Yu-bin, along with their North Korean counterparts Kim Kum-yong and Ri Jong-sik, were seen with smiling faces as they clicked a selfie on the podium following their success of securing bronze and silver medals respectively at the South Paris Arena the previous month. The Chinese gold medal winners, Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha, also featured in the photographs.
The selfie made its way to the official Instagram account of the Games, amassing several hundred thousand likes. It was also recognised by People magazine as one of the 12 greatest acts of sportsmanship at the Paris Olympics.
However, recent reports from the media suggest that Kim and Ri are under ideological censorship. The Seoul-based Daily NK, a site dedicated to North Korean issues, quotes an anonymous source from Pyongyang stating that athletes and North Korean Olympic Committee members have been put under a month-long period of ‘ideological purification’ ever since they returned home in the middle of August – a routine norm for sportspersons who have experienced life outside the communist regime.
The site further reported that the nation’s athletes were ordered to abstain from mingling with competitors from other nations, especially South Korea. Those who chose to fraternise reportedly risked facing punishments.
The table tennis champions were purportedly targeted for reproof in a report forwarded to the officials for ‘smiling’ as they shared the frame with athletes from a nation that their government has termed as its primary adversary.
The photo was taken during a period when relations were highly strained between North and South Korea. The two nations, who have been in a state of tension since the conflict of 1950-53 ended with a ceasefire but no peace agreement, have seen recent escalations. A joint military exercise from South Korea, the US, and Japan sparked protests from the North, while increased cooperation between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin has caused unease across the region.
The potential repercussions for the table tennis players remain uncertain. Their penalties may be influenced by the extent of their regret for momentarily letting their guard down in Paris, as suggested by the Korea Times newspaper.
Returning North Korean athletes are typically subjected to a three-tiered “ideological examination”, culminating in self-scrutiny sessions involving the team. During these sessions, they have to condemn “unfitting behaviour” amongst their peers and contemplate their own acts, as specified by the Korea Times.
Indicating genuine guilt can potentially save athletes from “political or administrative punishments”, whose specific details remain vague, disclosed an anonymous source to the newspaper.
The developments show how control over conduct beyond its national boundaries is exerted by the North Korean government, according to Human Rights Watch. The organisation mentioned in a statement that, in line with the Olympic Charter, the International Olympic Committee is responsible for safeguarding athletes from all forms of harassment and abuse. The statement also asserted that North Korean athletes should not fear retaliation for their conduct in the games, especially when these actions represent respect and camaraderie, the cornerstones of the Olympic movement.
While Kim and Ri clinched the silver medal, other athletes have allegedly been reprimanded for poor performance. The Daily NK reported how the North Korean football team was criticized for six hours for “betraying” their nation’s ideological battle, after they were eliminated from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa for losing all their group games and conceding 12 goals. Their coach, Kim Jung-hun, was reportedly made to work at a construction site, according to The Guardian.