Kim Hee-chul Apologizes After Outburst Over Incheon's 'Upside-Down' Taegukgi Banner

Incheon City recently displayed commemorative banners near its city hall to celebrate Liberation Day. However, the Taegukgi (South Korean flag) design on the banners appeared to be upside down, sparking widespread online debate and drawing sharp criticism from Super Junior member Kim Hee-chul (김희철). The city ultimately removed the banners after just two days and explained the design's intent. Kim Hee-chul issued a public apology the following day after the truth behind the incident came to light.

The controversy began with promotional banners created by Incheon City to mark the 81st anniversary of Liberation Day. The Taegukgi design on the banners, which initially looked inverted, led to heated discussions and criticism among netizens. Given that the banners were intended to commemorate Liberation Day, the perceived incorrect display of the national flag ignited a significant dispute.

Upon seeing the banners, Kim Hee-chul expressed his strong dissatisfaction on social media, using intense language such as "f***ing crazy!" to denounce the design.

When his remarks were interpreted by some as a political stance, Kim Hee-chul clarified, saying, "Many people are concerned that my comments about the Taegukgi might be political, but regardless of left or right, it is our national flag." He emphasized that the issue of an inverted Taegukgi was unrelated to political affiliation, stating, "Just for the act of participating in politics, I don't feel I should be praised or criticized." He added that "as a Korean, this is simply natural."

However, as the controversy continued, the true design concept of the banners gradually emerged. Incheon City later issued a statement, clarifying that there was no intention to deliberately invert the Taegukgi.