At the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, only one gold medal was reported to have actually been exchanged due to a defect. However, that was not the only medal showing abnormal marks. According to an investigation by Inven, white marks suspected to be discoloration or surface damage were also discovered on gold medals received by the South Korean delegation's esports team.
China's Xinhua News Agency reported on the 25th that an esports gold medalist noticed signs of discoloration along the edge of their medal and requested a replacement from the organizing committee. After checking the athlete's departure schedule and lodging, the committee dispatched staff to the accommodations that night to exchange it for a new medal. As of the 25th, the organizing committee stated that this was the sole case of a defect replacement.
Inven subsequently obtained photos of a medal received by a South Korean esports gold medalist. The photos show an irregular white mark between the tournament emblem and the English event title, clearly distinct from the surrounding gold surface.
An athlete who spoke with Inven said, “The ones we received also had something on the back that looked like white paint peeling off.” They added that similar marks were present on all the medals received by their teammates who won gold alongside them.
After notifying the Korea e-Sports Association (KeSPA) of the situation, the athlete was asked to submit multiple photos showing the condition of the medal. KeSPA stated, “We have inquired about the replacement procedure with the Asian Games Organizing Committee through the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC), and are currently awaiting confirmation.”
The issue lies in the fact that as of the 25th, the organizing committee announced only one medal had been replaced due to defects, a point highlighted by Japanese sports media outlet Ronspo as a testament to the craftsmanship and medal quality of the Japan Mint. Ronspo praised the organizing committee's prompt response and the fact that there was only a single replacement case out of approximately 7,000 medals to be used in the games.
However, as Inven's investigation confirmed similar marks on South Korean athletes' gold medals, it has become difficult to avoid criticism that assessing 'only one defective medal' was premature. The single case cited by the organizing committee was merely an instance where an athlete raised the issue directly and received an exchange, not the result of inspecting all medals already awarded.
The exact cause of the white marks on the South Korean medals has not yet been confirmed. A formal defect ruling from the organizing committee has also not been issued. However, given that additional abnormal marks were found on medals that passed dual inspections by both the manufacturer and the organizing committee, there is a need to conduct an overall check on the condition of all medals awarded beyond individual exchanges.
Since its opening, the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games has sparked multiple controversies due to poor event management, including issues with meals, accommodations, and athlete transportation. With marks similar to the defect previously reported as a single case now confirmed on South Korean gold medals, the games will find it hard to escape criticism surrounding its overall preparation and management.
