By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak fiercely waved the national flag to cheer up the Korean women’s handball squad during a match with Russia in Beijing. But something was wrong with the flag in his hand: It was upside-down.
Internet users were quick to catch the mistake and posted jeering comments as the pictures circulated online. Among the comments were: ``It’s a shame of Korea to the world.'' ``An upside-down flag means humiliation and insult. It’s only seen when a country is defeated in battle.''
Yonhap removed the pictures from its Web site and asked other portals not to use the pictures. However, the pictures immediately spread to online users' blogs and Internet cafes.
Cheong Wa Dae said that Korea’s cheering squad in Beijing gave him the flag.
The main opposition Democratic Party commented that Korean Olympic players are doing very well even though President Lee supported them with an upside-down flag.