Rising Sun Flag Displayed at German Venue Draws Criticism from Korean Netizens
Flag Not Used in Performances After War Crime Flag Controversy
British global pop star Adele, who faced fierce criticism from Korean netizens for displaying the Japanese Rising Sun Flag at a concert hall in Germany, removed the flag in subsequent performances.
On the 2nd (local time), Adele caused controversy by showing the Rising Sun Flag on a giant outdoor screen while performing the song "Rumor Has It" at a solo concert held at a special stadium in Munich, Germany.
Many netizens protested through Adele's social media accounts, and Professor Seokyeongdeok from Sungshin Women's University, who is conducting a "Worldwide Campaign to Eradicate the Rising Sun Flag," sent a protest email to Adele's team.
In the email, Professor Seo explained, "The Rising Sun Flag was the flag Japan prominently displayed during its invasions of various Asian countries in the past, symbolizing Japanese militarism and imperialism," adding, "Reusing the Rising Sun Flag is tantamount to denying the history of Japan's aggressive wars."
Image of the Rising Sun Flag used at Adele's concert in Germany [Image source=Provided by Professor Seokyeongdeok's team]
He continued, "Since it reminds Asians of the horrors of war, Adele should sincerely apologize to her Asian fans."
On the 11th, Professor Seo revealed, "Some netizens reported from the venue that the video shown in the subsequent concerts did not include the Rising Sun Flag." However, he added, "While it was good to remove the flag from the video immediately, it is regrettable that there was no public apology."
The controversy over pop stars using the Rising Sun Flag is not limited to Adele. British musician Ed Sheeran faced backlash after posting a video with a background reminiscent of the Rising Sun Flag while promoting a podcast on his Instagram account, which has over one million followers. Sheeran deleted the post following protest comments but did not make any further statements.
Additionally, the legendary British rock band Led Zeppelin used the Rising Sun Flag pattern on their website background and T-shirt designs while selling T-shirts commemorating the 50th anniversary of their first performance in Japan in 1971, in 2021. Other artists such as Maroon 5, Guns N' Roses, Justin Bieber, and Anne-Marie have also faced severe criticism for using the Rising Sun Flag pattern.
Professor Seo emphasized, "It is important not only to criticize and express anger but also to accurately inform people about the historical background of the Rising Sun Flag to prevent its future use," adding, "It is also crucial to make good use of proper responses like Adele's when other pop stars use the Rising Sun Flag pattern in the future."
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