Nagoya: The top South Korean sports body announced on Thursday that it has filed an official complaint with the organizing committee of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The complaint concerns the highlighting of a Japanese warlord, who had invaded Korea, during a recent ceremony. According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee (KSOC) submitted the complaint to both the organizing committee and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) on Wednesday. This action followed the appearance of an individual dressed as Toyotomi Hideyoshi at the welcome ceremony for the cruise ship Costa Serena, which will function as a floating hotel for around 4,000 athletes and officials. The ceremony also included representations of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu, significant historical figures from the Nagoya region. Hideyoshi orchestrated the Japanese invasions of Korea from 1592 to 1598, known as the Imjin War. The choice to feature him at the event has sparked outrage in South Korea, especially given the Asian Games' slogan "Imagine One Asia." The KSOC's president, Ryu Seung-min, voiced his regret over the incident, demanding measures to prevent similar occurrences. Upon his arrival in Nagoya on Thursday, Lee Sang-hyun, South Korea's chef de mission, acknowledged the importance of respecting local culture. However, he expressed disappointment over the lack of consideration shown for the South Korean delegation. Lee emphasized the team's focus on competing and performing well, rather than dwelling on the issue. The KSOC reported that they had not received any response from either the organizing committee or the OCA by Thursday afternoon. The organizing committee, in a response to an earlier inquiry by Yonhap News Agency, clarified that the portrayal of Hideyoshi was not meant to endorse any specific historical figure or convey a historical message. They acknowledged diverse interpretations of ceremonies and emphasized their commitment to ensuring appropriate content for an international sporting event. The incide nt has evoked memories in South Korea of the Japanese protest against South Korean banners at the athletes' village during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Those banners referenced a famous quote by Admiral Yi Sun-shin from the Imjin War. The International Olympic Committee had intervened, requesting South Korea to remove the banners after a protest by a far-right Japanese political party. Source: Yonhap News Agency