Super Junior member Kim Heechul has apologized after criticizing a Liberation Day commemorative banner created by Incheon City, mistakenly believing that the South Korean flag (Taegukgi) on the banner was displayed incorrectly.
It was later confirmed that the flag was not upside down. The image was created from a low-angle perspective, showing an independence activist holding the flag above the viewer.
Kim apologized through Instagram on August 9th, writing, “If you are reading this apology a day later, you may be confused, but this was my mistake.”
The controversy began after Incheon City released a banner on August 6th ahead of South Korea’s 81st Liberation Day. The banner featured the phrase “The Day We Reclaimed Our Light” along with an image of an independence activist holding the Taegukgi.
After the banner was shared online, some people questioned whether the flag had been placed upside down. Kim Heechul joined the criticism and left a harsh comment on the post, while fellow Super Junior member Choi Siwon also responded with a Taegukgi emoji.
As the debate grew, Incheon City explained that the flag was not incorrectly designed. The city said the image was drawn from a low-angle viewpoint, making the flag appear different depending on the viewer’s perspective.
The banner was removed on August 8th to avoid further confusion and controversy.
After learning the explanation, Kim admitted that he had reacted too quickly. He wrote, “I failed to properly recognize the person holding the Taegukgi and became angry just by looking at the flag pattern for a moment. It was clearly my mistake caused by my lack of attention and hasty judgment.”
He added that he had recently seen many cases of the Taegukgi being displayed incorrectly, which may have caused him to react more strongly.
“I did not look closely at the image, and it is only right to apologize when I am wrong,” Kim wrote. “Please criticize me for my lack of caution.”
Kim also clarified that his reaction was not related to politics. “Regardless of political views, my feelings came only from my respect for our national flag,” he said, adding that he hopes the Taegukgi will not be misunderstood or given different meanings in the future.
Meanwhile, Professor Seo Kyoung Duk of Sungshin Women’s University commented that while the Taegukgi itself was not incorrect, the way it was presented could have caused confusion among viewers.
With Kim acknowledging his mistake and apologizing, the controversy surrounding the banner appears to be coming to an end.
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