Advertisement resembling 'Rising Sun Flag' on Samiljeol withdrawn after controversy: "Must not give Japan an excuse"

Controversy Over Subway Ad Image for Celebrity Birthday Resembling 'Rising Sun Flag'
Netizens Say "It's Samiljeol... Not Appropriate"
Seo Kyung-duk Calls It "Historical Ignorance"

An advertisement celebrating a celebrity's birthday on a billboard at Samseong Station on Seoul Subway Line 2 was withdrawn after criticism arose that it included an image reminiscent of the Rising Sun Flag. Photo by Online Community Capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] On Samiljeol (March 1st Movement Day), an advertisement containing an image resembling the "Rising Sun Flag," a symbol of Japanese militarism, was displayed on a billboard at Samsung Station on Seoul Subway Line 2 but was withdrawn following complaints from citizens. Regarding this, Professor Seo Kyung-deok of Sungshin Women's University raised his voice, saying, "This provides an excuse for the Japanese side to use the Rising Sun Flag."

On the 1st, to celebrate the birthday of Miyawaki Sakura, a Japanese member of the group IZ*ONE, her Chinese fans posted a congratulatory advertisement on the electronic billboard at Samsung Station. The problem was that the advertisement image included a background reminiscent of the Rising Sun Flag. Behind Miyawaki's photo, there was an image with a pink Rising Sun Flag pattern.

Netizens who saw this raised concerns, stating that the pattern reminded them of the Rising Sun Flag. Subsequently, criticism grew mainly on online communities and social networking services (SNS) that "Rising Sun Flag advertisements are inappropriate," and Seoul Metro eventually took down the advertisement. The advertisement was originally scheduled to be posted until the 31st of this month.

In response, Professor Seo posted on his Facebook on the 2nd, stating, "It turned out that the advertisement was posted by Chinese fans. It is judged to have been created out of 'historical ignorance,' unaware that the Rising Sun Flag is a war crime flag." He added, "However, we also made the same mistake. The officials at Samsung Station and Seoul Metro should have filtered this out during the review process."

Professor Seo continued, "We must pay attention so that such incidents do not happen again domestically," adding, "If this happens again, it will only provide the Japanese side with an excuse to use the Rising Sun Flag." He also explained, "It was especially controversial because this happened on Samiljeol."

Professor Seo cited the case during the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics when the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee used the Rising Sun Flag and emphasized that similar controversies should not occur in the future. He said, "In response to Japan's distortion of the Rising Sun Flag, we must first accurately understand the historical truth and further continue to inform the world that the 'Rising Sun Flag = war crime flag.'"

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