A simple, heartwarming selfie between North and South Korean athletes at the Olympics might cause big problems for the North Korean team. Before heading to Paris, North Korean athletes were reportedly warned not to interact with South Koreans or other foreign athletes, with strict consequences if they did. Now that they’re back home, the team is said to be going through a month-long ideological review since 15th August. So, the Ministry of Sport will assess and purge any lingering “non-socialist” influences.

However, North Korean table tennis players Kim Kum-yong and Ri Jong-sik, who won silver in the mixed team event at the Paris 2024 Olympics, might face disciplinary action for taking a selfie with their competitors, including South Korean athletes. The photo, which went viral and was celebrated as a “beautiful moment in Olympic history,” is viewed negatively in North Korea. Since their return on August 15, the athletes have been undergoing a month-long “cleanse” to remove any influence of foreign cultures. The potential consequences of their actions are still unclear.

Previous events suggest that the consequences could be harsh. After North Korea’s lackluster performance in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, players faced a six-hour public reprimand, and their coach was reassigned to labor construction as a form of punishment.

Now it seems North Korean athletes will now typically undergo a three-stage assessment by the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party, the Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports, and the athletes themselves. This process, often called “ideological scrubbing,” begins as soon as they return home to purge any “contamination” from exposure to non-socialist cultures abroad.

The multi-layered assessment process for athletes in North Korea after Paris Olympics controversy

The process involves multiple rounds of scrutiny.

1. First Assessment: Managed by the sports bureau of the Central Committee’s Propaganda and Agitation Department, this assessment focuses on the athletes’ behavior from an ideological standpoint during their time abroad. The goal is to identify any behavior that contradicts the party’s directives or propaganda, with punishments administered for any transgressions.
2. Second Assessment: Conducted by the Cabinet’s Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports, this stage evaluates the athletes’ performance compared to previous international events and determines whether they deserve commendations or, conversely, punishment.
3. Final Assessment: Involves mutual criticism and self-criticism sessions among the athletes, where they confess to any inappropriate behavior and criticize others. This stage is crucial for athletes who might have interacted with foreign competitors, as acknowledging any wrongdoing during these sessions could help them avoid harsher political and legal repercussions.

It seems that in North Korea, falling short of expectations can lead to serious fallout. What’s your take on this? Drop a comment below and let us know your thoughts.