Incheon City removes banner following Taegukgi controversy

Incheon Metropolitan City has removed a banner commemorating the 81st Liberation Day following online controversy regarding the depiction of the South Korean flag (Taegukgi). The banner, which featured an independence activist waving the flag, drew criticism from social media users who claimed the red and blue Taegeuk symbol was inverted.

Incheon officials clarified that the design was not an error but intended to represent a perspective looking up at the activist from below, maintaining that the fundamental elements of the flag were correct. However, the city decided to remove the banner after two days to prevent further misunderstanding. An official stated, "We did not pay close enough attention to parts that appear flat... we will examine matters more closely in the future to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings."

The incident gained additional attention after celebrity Kim Hee-chul commented on the matter via social media, later stating that his reaction was not intended to be political but rather a response to the national flag, which he noted is something