By Kim Rahn
South and North Korean athletes' possible joint entrance at the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Games under a "unification flag" is pitting the Moon Jae-in administration against conservatives.
Supporters say that it will show the Olympic spirit of peace, while opponents say it is nonsense for the host country to be unable to use its national flag.
While Seoul and Pyongyang will hold more working-level talks today on the details of the North's participation in the Games, Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Do Jong-hwan said Monday if the two Koreas decide to jointly enter the opening ceremony, the athletes will march under the unification flag instead of the South Korea's Taegeukgi.
The flag, symbolizing a unified Korea, is white with the peninsula in blue at center. The North and the South have held the flag for every sports event they have had joint marches in or formed a "unified" team.
"Some may think we, the host country, need to hold the Taegeukgi, but we also marched under the unification flag at the Busan Asian Games and Daegu Summer Universiad although we were the host," Do said in a National Assembly session.
"The two Koreas have had over nine joint marches at sports events, and peace on the Korean Peninsula through sports is a value the Olympics pursue."
Do said a large-sized Taegeukgi, the flag of the host country, would enter at the beginning of the opening ceremony, and the unification flag would be used afterward during the entrance march of each country.
"The two Koreas, along with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), will decide details about such issues on Saturday," Do said. "Some suggest the athletes hold both Taegeukgi and North Korean flag, so we'll discuss that as well."
The rival political parties have shown a mixed reaction to the use of the unification flag.
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea said it would provide momentum for peace on the peninsula. But opposition parties said not using the Taegeukgi is against the national pride, and using the unification flag could send the wrong political message that peace has already come without resolving the North's nuclear issue.
"Hosting the Olympics was available through long-term efforts by all the people here, so we (South Korea) deserve to show our symbol to the world," People's Party Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo said.
"Not many people will understand that the South Korean team cannot march under the Taegeukgi," Bareun Party Chairman Yoo Seong-min said, adding the minister is causing internal discord among South Koreans.
Liberty Korea Party Chairman Hong Joon-pyo also said South Korea should hold the Taegeukgi and it is up to North Korea what flag it will hold.
More talks due today
The two Koreas will hold their third meeting over the PyeongChang Games today to discuss details about the North Korean delegation's participation in the event.
They may talk about which high-ranking members will lead the delegation. Among those on the possible list is Choe Ryong-hae, who is said to be the North's "No. 2 man" and who chaired the country's National Sports Guidance Committee.
If Choe comes, he and his South Korean counterparts may be able to have in-depth discussions on improving inter-Korean relations.
The two sides will also have to decide who will cover the cost for the North Korean delegation's stay here, with the number of its members expected to be around 400 to 500.
The IOC said it would pay for the athletes, but South Korea may have to do so for non-athletes such as officials, performance troupes and the cheering squad. In the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, the North paid 200 million won for the athletes' room and board, and the South, 410 million won for transportation and the fee for use of the broadcasting center.
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