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Japanese man wrapped in Rising Sun flag sparks controversy at festival

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The Japanese man in a Rising Sun flag. Capture from Seo Kyung-duk's Instagram
The Japanese man in a Rising Sun flag. Capture from Seo Kyung-duk's Instagram

By Dong Sun-hwa

A Japanese man has ignited controversy for wrapping himself in a Rising Sun flag at the "ULTRA Korea" festival in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, on June 7-9.

The Japanese imperial military used the flag during World War II (1939-45) and the flag is regarded as a symbol of Japan's wartime aggression. Many Koreans believe the flag should be banned.

Some Korean participants in the ULTRA Korea, Asia's largest electronic dance music (EDM) festival, reportedly had "clashes" with the Japanese and reported him to the organization committee. But the committee did not take any tangible action, according to Professor Seo Kyung-duk, a top Korea promoter.

"The festival officials should have restrained the man. If he had not cooperated, they should have dragged him out," Seo wrote on his Instagram Tuesday.

"The man will return to Japan and say he had no problem displaying a Rising Sun flag in Korea. The committee should make an official apology and promise to avoid a recurrence," Seo wrote.

The professor also called for a law to ban the use of the controversial flag.

ULTRA Korea has not yet responded to the issue.


Dong Sun-hwa sunhwadong@koreatimes.co.kr


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