North Korean Table Tennis Player Selfie With South Korean Athletes At The Paris Olympics Undergoes Examination Upon Arriving In Indonesia

JAKARTA - North Korean table tennis player who took a selfie with South Korean athlete Shin Yu-bin and other medalists at the 2024 Paris Olympics, reportedly underwent an ideological examination in Pyongyang.

Selfie it was done on July 30. The reason for the inspection was, they were seen smiling beside South Korean athletes, a country that was considered hostile.

According to the Daily NK, the North Korean contingent arrived back in Pyongyang on August 15 and underwent what was described as an ideological evaluation.

This is a standard procedure for North Koreans who have been exposed to noncommunistic culture while abroad. The media said North Korea views living in a noncommunist country as a form of "explanation of contamination."

The source said the evaluation began when athletes returned home to "clean up" themselves as quickly as possible.

According to reports, North Korean athletes were ordered by authorities before participating in the Olympics not to interact with South Korean athletes or other foreign athletes. Any confirmed violation of this directive could result in punishment.

In particular, table tennis players Ri Jong-sik and Kim Kum-yong, who won silver medals in mixed doubles, are reportedly being watched for smiling with Shin Yu-bin and Lim Jong-hoon from South Korea.

Kim Kum-yong took a selfie with a smile, while Ri Jong-sik was seen smiling when he saw other athletes after getting off the podium. According to the Daily NK, other North Korean athletes also underwent an ideological evaluation process for a month.

North Korean athletes returning from international competition underwent a three-stage ideological review: first by the Central Committee of the Korean Workers Party, then by the Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports, and finally by the team itself.

During the team's internal review, athletes are expected to criticize the behavior of others who are inappropriate or reflect on their own actions in public.

A high-level source indicates that athletes who interact with foreign athletes, such as taking selfies, must express strong regret during a self-criticism session to avoid political or administrative penalties.