South Korean finswimming team to compete without national flag amid protest disruption

South Korea's national finswimming team is set to compete in the upcoming World Championships without the national flag adorning their gear, a consequence of significant organizational disruptions. The 2026 World Aquatics Federation (CMAS) World Finswimming Championships are scheduled to take place from June 24 to 28 in Incheon.

The core of the problem lies with the 대한수중핀수영협회 (Korea Underwater Finswimming Association), the event's organizer. A protest lockdown at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium, the association's office location in Seoul, prevented officials from accessing and retrieving crucial competition equipment and commemorative items. This included team uniforms and swimming caps.

Despite ordering new uniforms, the association could not emblazon the South Korean flag on the swimming caps due to time constraints. The inability to properly manage administrative tasks for the international event has led to a 10,000 euro (approximately $17,500) fine from the CMAS. Furthermore, pre-printed tickets remain inaccessible in the locked office, forcing the organizers to switch to free admission, resulting in an estimated loss of 60 million won (around $43,000) in potential revenue. The association also faces additional costs for the newly procured supplies.