Super Junior's Kim Hee-chul pushes back on political reading of upside-down flag outrage

Super Junior member Kim Hee-chul has spoken out after his criticism of an upside-down Taegukgi banner was interpreted as a political statement.

"Many people are worried about the political implications of my flag comment, but beyond left or right, isn't it simply our country's flag?" Kim wrote on his social media Saturday.

He also recalled moments during overseas tours when foreign fans would wave the Taegukgi alongside their own national flags. "When we're on tour, fans abroad recognize the Taegukgi, so they hold it together with their own country's flag," he wrote. "If someone holds it the wrong way, we let them know, say sorry to each other and laugh about it."

On the question of political choice, Kim said voting was a personal freedom. "In a free South Korea where you can vote for whoever you want and mark any number you choose, it really doesn't make sense to call that an infringement of suffrage," he said. "I've cast many votes myself, and there were times I posted thoughtlessly. Among my fans, there are naturally those who support the same people I do, and just as naturally, those who support different ones."

He added, "I want to live respecting everyone and show that only through song and dance."

Kim also said the flag issue and questions of political allegiance should be kept separate. "My fans would probably prefer I not get tangled up in anything, but the issue of hanging the Taegukgi upside down — and on top of that, it's not even a left-or-right statement — I don't think I deserve either praise or criticism just for mentioning 'suffrage.' It's something any South Korean would naturally do," he said.

He closed the post by saying, "If I still get criticized for this, well... it's the price of the image I've built up over the years, so there's nothing I can do. Have a great weekend."

Earlier, Kim had come across a photo of a banner posted by a local government ahead of the 81st Liberation Day, in which the Taegukgi was printed upside down. He reacted with a profanity-laced expression of disbelief and posted a Taegukgi emoji alongside it.

After some observers began attaching political meaning to the remark, Kim stepped forward to clarify his intent.