NCT Dream‘s Jaemin is back in the spotlight, but this time for all the wrong reasons! Recently, the idol made a Weverse update utilizing Japanese characters on Korean Liberation Day, sparking a wave of criticism from online users. Some have called his actions “ignorant” and “insensitive.”
The post in question? A selfie the NCT Dream member shared with a caption in Japanese on August 15, after arriving in the country for promotional activities. The Weverse update read “I’ve arrived,” typed in Japanese, which provoked a backlash from Internet users.
The reason is that August 15 marks the 79th National Liberation Day in both South Korea and North Korea. This day commemorates the moment when these nations were finally freed from years of Japan’s colonial rule, making this a sensitive topic for many people in the country.
As of now, neither Jaemin nor his agency, SM Entertainment, have released an apology following the backlash. This issue tends to be common among K-pop stars, as they frequently visit Japan for work activities. Most recently, Stray Kids‘ Felix was wrapped in a similar situation, but he quickly apologized.
