Stray Kids’ Felix and Tomorrow X Together’s Yeonjun have both issued public apologies after facing backlash for posting content related to Japan on Korea’s Liberation Day, which marks the end of Japanese colonial rule.
On August 15th, Felix addressed the controversy, saying, “I want to sincerely apologize to everyone, especially the fans who were disappointed by my careless actions.” He explained, “In the early hours of August 15th, I mentioned a Japanese song while talking about a short-form challenge with fans on a communication platform. I deeply regret not being more cautious and considerate on such a significant day.”
Felix continued, “I’m reflecting on my lack of historical awareness. I’ll make sure to educate myself better and act more thoughtfully in the future to avoid repeating such mistakes. I’m truly sorry once again.” The controversy began when Felix mentioned a Japanese anime challenge to fans through Bubble.
Yeonjun also issued an apology for a similar misstep. In the early hours of August 16th, he wrote on Weverse, saying, “I failed to respect the historical significance of Liberation Day and carelessly uploaded photos. I sincerely apologize to everyone who was hurt by my thoughtless actions.”
He added, “I’m reflecting on my shortcomings and will be more careful in the future to ensure this doesn’t happen again. I apologize once again to everyone.” Yeonjun had come under fire after posting several photos on August 15th taken on a Japanese street, sparking controversy.
This year marks the 79th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from 35 years of Japanese colonial rule, a day that holds deep historical significance in the country. However, K-pop idols have often faced criticism for their actions on this day, and this year was no different as fans expressed disappointment over Felix and Yeonjun’s lack of awareness.
Despite their apologies, some fans remained critical, with one commenting, “It’s one thing not to post the Korean flag on Liberation Day, but talking about Japan instead shows a clear lack of historical understanding.”
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