*This content was translated by AI.
A serious controversy has erupted after a Shake Shack outlet in Abu Dhabi, UAE, began distributing World Cup commemorative items featuring a severely damaged South Korean flag.
The problematic merchandise is designed to display the national flags of 48 countries that qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted by North America. However, in the case of the South Korean flag, the central Taegeuk symbol is distorted, and the four trigrams—Geon, Gon, Gam, and Ri—that should fill the corners are completely absent.
Seo Kyung-deok Seong Sin-yeo-dae (Prof.) revealed this fact on his social media (SNS) on the 14th, strongly criticizing Shake Shack's ignorance.
Professor Seo stated, "I received reports from Korean residents living in Abu Dhabi," and explained, "The merchandise provided with the World Cup set menu at local Shake Shack outlets features a flag with an incorrect design."
He further pointed out the company's careless attitude, stating, "It is absolutely unacceptable for a global hamburger chain brand like Shake Shack to make such a fatal error on a national flag representing a country." He added, "Producing and distributing such merchandise diminishes the meaning of the World Cup."
He also urged global companies to take responsible action. Professor Seo emphasized, "A true global company must first accurately understand and respect the countries where it operates and their respective cultures."
Finally, Professor Seo said, "While it remains unclear how much stock is currently left in stores, we plan to immediately send a formal complaint email to Shake Shack's headquarters," adding, "We will strongly demand an immediate halt to the distribution of this merchandise."
<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>
*This content was translated by AI.
