# South Korea protests Asian Games warlord display

> South Korea objects to Japanese warlord at Asian Games ceremony
- Title: South Korea protests Asian Games warlord display · Malay Mail
- Summary: South Korea objects to Japanese warlord at Asian Games ceremony Korean committee filed complaint over historical sensitivity
- Keywords: south korea, asian games, toyotomi hideyoshi, korean sport & olympic committee, olympic council of asia, japan, korean history, forced labour, news, world, South, Korea
- Source: Malay Mail — https://malaymail.com/news/sports/2026/09/18/south-korea-protests-asian-games-ceremony-featuring-japanese-warlord-linked-to-16thcentury-invasions/235621
- Published: 2026-09-18T11:42:55+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: south korea, asian games, toyotomi hideyoshi, korean sport & olympic committee, olympic council of asia, japan, korean history, forced labour, news, world
## Korean committee files complaint
South Korea's Olympic committee filed a complaint with Asian Games organizers in Nagoya for featuring a Japanese warlord at a welcoming ceremony.
## Warlord linked to invasions
The ceremony portrayed Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who led Japan's 1592-1598 invasions of Korea, causing historical backlash.
## Historical tensions
South Korea and Japan have strained relations over Japan's colonial rule of Korea from 1910 to 1945.
## Korean committee regrets
Korean Sport & Olympic Committee president Ryu Seung-min expressed regret and requested preventive measures.
## No response yet
As of today, organizers have not responded to the complaint.
## Forced labour history
During Japanese colonial rule, about 780,000 Koreans were conscripted into forced labour.
## Key takeaway

Korean committee filed complaint over historical sensitivity