South Koreans are criticizing American pop-rock band Maroon 5 for using the Rising Sun Japanese flag design for their 2022 World Tour poster.
On July 3, Maroon 5 announced the schedule for their world tour this year on their official website. They will start the tour in Quebec City, Canada, and then fly to Asia, where they will perform in Singapore, Korea, Japan, the Philippines, and Thailand. On November 30, the band will perform in the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, for the first time after nearly four years.
Although the group is well-known and has a large fan base in Korea, many of the band’s South Korean fans were upset with the group’s poster, which features Japan’s Rising Sun. The Rising Sun Flag is the Japanese flag wherein the sun has rays spreading out from its middle, hence its name “Rising Sun.”
In Korea, the Rising Sun symbol is considered controversial because the symbol is associated with Japan’s wartime atrocities and attempts to colonize Korea, China, Taiwan, and the greater Pacific area. To South Korean citizens, the Rising Sun Flag is considered a war criminal flag, so seeing Maroon 5 use the symbol would certainly be upsetting.
Some fans took to Twitter to express their displeasure at the band’s use of the symbol in their World Tour poster.
Why you use risingsun flag on concert poster? That warcriminal's flag and you will come to korea
I don't understand— 노선용 (@NoseonYong) July 3, 2022
Hey @maroon5 what the fuck is this? You’re using the Rising Sun flag of Japan, the flag under which they raped and pillaged Korea—which is ONE OF THE STOPS ON YOUR TOUR—as, what, a 🌟cool design🌟 ??? pic.twitter.com/Dot5c4Igtf
— alice in blunderland (@yoooooalice) July 4, 2022
Hey @maroon5 what the fuck is this? You’re using the Rising Sun flag of Japan, the flag under which they raped and pillaged Korea—which is ONE OF THE STOPS ON YOUR TOUR—as, what, a 🌟cool design🌟 ??? pic.twitter.com/Dot5c4Igtf
— alice in blunderland (@yoooooalice) July 4, 2022
Maroon 5’s disrespect and obvious lack of knowledge regarding the use of this flag and the atrocities of the early 20th century when Japan colonized Korea, Taiwan, and parts of China. Brutally oppressing those people and kidnapping and abusing Korean Royals. #shameful pic.twitter.com/r6dhwN136r
— Kathleen (@fasonk) July 5, 2022
I was a fan of yours, and I was very disappointed. I've been waiting 4 years, but I won't go see it. Korea does not welcome you who glorified war.
— 엔키 (@fullfeeling2m) July 4, 2022
Maroon 5 out there making it a goal to get canceled in as many countries as they can. first in Chile and now in Korea 😭😭
— Nexus Wendy (@TheLorax_twt) July 5, 2022
Maroon 5 hasn’t released an official statement in response to the issue, but the band has taken action — they have taken down the World Tour poster from their official website and replaced it with a photo of the band. Per INQUIRER.net, sources say that Maroon 5 removed the poster from their website on Wednesday morning. /TV
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