Tomorrow X Together Yeonjun Uploads Photos Taken in Japan
Stray Kids Felix Mentions Japanese Anime from Dawn on Gwangbokjeol
WEi Junseo Answers Korean Questions in Japanese
On the 79th anniversary of Liberation Day, some idols faced criticism from netizens after posting photos from trips to Japan or leaving comments in Japanese.
Yeonjun of the group Tomorrow X Together (TXT) posted several photos of himself on Instagram on the 15th. The issue arose because the backgrounds of these photos were in Japan. Following the controversy, in the early hours of the 16th, he apologized, saying, "I showed carelessness by uploading photos without respecting the historical significance and meaning of Liberation Day," and added, "I sincerely apologize to everyone who was hurt by my wrong actions. I will be more careful to ensure this does not happen again."
Stray Kids' Felix sparked controversy from the early morning of Liberation Day. While discussing the 'short-form challenge' on the communication platform 'Bubble,' he mentioned a Japanese animation challenge, which drew backlash. He posted an apology stating, "I sincerely apologize for my thoughtless and careless behavior on this meaningful Liberation Day. I deeply reflect on my lack of historical awareness. I will study more, think carefully, and act accordingly."
Photo posted and deleted by Yeonjun of Tomorrow X Together on Liberation Day. Source=Yeonjun Instagram
Previously, Felix also caused controversy on Memorial Day in 2022 by recommending a song by a Japanese singer. At that time, he mentioned Matsubara Miki's song "Stay With Me," saying, "I feel good when I listen to this song." Even after two years, Felix repeated similar remarks and actions, which could not escape public criticism.
Junseo of the group WEi also came under scrutiny on Liberation Day for communicating via the 'Bubble' app. He responded in Japanese to questions asked by fans in Korean. When asked, "Is there anything you want to do in Japan next month?" he replied, "Eating monjayaki and yakisoba after a long time. おいしいそうだな (I heard it's delicious)." Additionally, when asked, "Even though I'm your younger sibling, can I talk comfortably at the face-to-face fan signing event?" he answered, "もちろんだよ (Of course)" in Japanese.
Ultimately, on the 16th, Junseo uploaded an apology on Instagram, saying, "I apologize to everyone who was hurt by my careless behavior. I will study more and be careful not to repeat such incidents." Netizens criticized these idols' controversies, saying things like, "Don't you know August 15 is Liberation Day?", "Are you doing this on purpose?", and "Please be careful at least on days like this."
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