[Edaily Reporter Nam Soyeon ] Kim Hee-chul, a member of the group Super Junior, has apologized for his harsh criticism of the South Korean flag depicted on an Incheon City banner commemorating Liberation Day. After Incheon City issued a clarification regarding the “upside-down flag” controversy raised by some, he bowed his head in apology, acknowledging that he had misunderstood the situation.

On the 9th, Kim Hee-chul explained on his Instagram Story, “I know this must be baffling for those of you seeing this apology just one day later, but I was at fault,” adding, “I didn’t properly recognize the way the person was holding it; I just saw the image of the Taegeuk and reacted angrily in the heat of the moment.”
He said, “This was clearly my mistake, caused by a lack of spatial awareness and hastiness,” and repeatedly apologized, saying, “I’m sorry.”
This controversy arose after suspicions were raised, primarily on some online communities, that the Taegeukgi on a Liberation Day banner posted by Incheon City was depicted upside down.
The illustration on the banner depicts an independence activist waving the Taegeukgi with both hands, but from the viewer’s perspective, the Taegeuk pattern and the arrangement of the four trigrams appeared to be upside down.
Kim Hee-chul left a comment saying, “You’ve lost your mind,” on a post discussing the banner, causing the controversy to spread further.
As the backlash intensified, Incheon City stepped in to clarify the matter.
A city official explained, “The illustration was meant to depict an independence activist holding the Taegeukgi with both hands, but the front of the flag is held so that it faces upward when viewed from above,” adding, “The banner depicts the back of the Taegeukgi as seen from below.”
The official explained, “During Liberation Day events and similar occasions, when multiple people unfurl the Taegeukgi and raise it with both arms, the front is positioned toward the sky so that it appears normal when viewed from above,” adding, “The banner in question depicts the flag being raised in that manner, and since the back is visible when viewed from below, it creates a contrasting image.”
However, the official added, “We failed to anticipate that citizens might misunderstand the banner if viewed flat,” and pledged, “We will take even more thorough measures to ensure there are no misunderstandings regarding the Taegeukgi.”
Ultimately, Incheon City removed the banner on the 8th.
Regarding the situation in which he posted the comment, Kim Hee-cheol said, “It’s like being startled by a pot lid after being startled by a snake—I suppose a lot of anger has been building up inside me as I’ve been seeing people, videos, and photos of the Taegeukgi being hung or drawn upside down so frequently these days,” “However, it was my mistake for not looking closely at the image, and since it’s only natural to apologize when I’m wrong, please reprimand me for not being more careful,” he explained.
Kim Hee-chul went on to say, “I hope that, starting with myself, the Taegeukgi will not be distorted into having other meanings or be misunderstood in the future.”