Kim Heechul apologizes for criticizing Incheon's Liberation Day banner

Kim Heechul, a member of the K-pop group Super Junior, has issued an apology following a controversy regarding a Liberation Day banner in Incheon. The singer had publicly criticized a municipal banner, claiming the South Korean flag (Taegeukgi) was being displayed upside down.

Incheon Metropolitan City clarified that the design was not incorrect but was intended to depict an independence activist holding the flag from a low-angle perspective, looking up at the figure. While the city removed the banner to prevent further misunderstanding, they maintained that the flag's core elements were correctly drawn.

Kim apologized via social media, citing a lack of spatial awareness and impulsiveness. He noted that recent instances of incorrectly displayed flags had caused him frustration, leading to his hasty reaction. He also clarified that his outburst was not motivated by political ideology but by a personal concern for the national flag.