Frustrated by 0-3 Defeat in Korea-Japan Match... "Why Is the Rising Sun Flag on the National Team's Chest?"

Netizens "Why only us when Japan is not included?"... Association "It's just a convention"

Korean national team uniforms issued for the Korea-Japan match held on the 25th at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama, Japan. Photo by Korea Football Association

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] After the friendly A-match between Korea and Japan, controversy has erupted over the Korean national team's 'chest Rising Sun Flag.' The Korean team's uniforms featured both the Taegeukgi and the Rising Sun Flag, but the Japanese team's uniforms only displayed the Rising Sun Flag.

Since Korea suffered a 0-3 defeat in the Korea-Japan friendly A-match held on the 25th at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama, Japan, netizens' dissatisfaction has grown over the fact that only the Korean team's chest bore the Rising Sun Flag.

In response, the Korea Football Association stated that it has been customary to include the opposing team's flag on the uniforms since the past, and that it is merely a tradition. The association explained, "The national team has consistently included both countries' flags and match information on the uniforms during friendly matches," adding, "This was started not only to commemorate matches between national teams but also considering the culture of exchanging uniforms."

Although the association feels unfair about the current controversy, the issue is spreading rapidly. A post titled 'Is it acceptable to have the Rising Sun Flag on the national football team's uniform?' has even been submitted to the Blue House's public petition site.

Amid the heated debate among netizens, one argued that it is simply a difference in sponsorship policies between Korea (Nike) and Japan (Adidas), explaining, "Nike, the manufacturer of the Korean national team's uniforms, began adding the opposing team's flag to the uniforms in official matches starting in 2018. Recently, this has also been done in friendly matches."

During the 2018 Russia World Cup and the away match in Austria last November, the Korean national team also displayed the opposing team's flag on their chests.

A Korea Football Association official clarified regarding Japan including only the Rising Sun Flag, stating, "It is the choice of the opposing country and not mandatory."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.