Designer of controversial t-shirt which BTS member JIMIN wore, apologizes for the controversy

BTS’ live performance for TV Asahi’s “Music Station” for Friday has been canceled over a photo of member, Jimin’s t-shirt.

While the wording on the t-shirt was not the problem, the shirt which featured the words “Patriotism OurHistory Liberation Korea” which is about Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule in 1945 and a photo of Korean’s celebrating is a major part of Korea’s history.

The controversy surrounds the photo on the top right of the shirt which features the atomic bomb exploding in Japan.

TV Asahi called off the performance after asking the band’s agency about the member’s intention of wearing the shirt.

The designer of the shirt, Lee Kwang-jae of LJ Company told media, “There was no intention of promoting anti-Japanese emotions or retaliation against Japan.  At the time of starting the brand, street fashion was prevalent and at the time, I was interested in history.  I put historical awareness into the fashion that young people wear”.

As for the photograph of the atomic bomb being dropped in Japan and how it led to BTS’ cancellation from “Music Station”, Lee Kwang-jae said, “About BTS appearing on the Japanese music program ‘Music Station’ and their performance was canceled, I heard about it yesterday and I am very upset.  I feel sorry because I did not intend to encourage anti-Japanese emotions and I am apologize to BTS in that respect”.

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