Mark, international shame immediately after leaving NCT... Wore 'symbol of racism' shirt and gave 'thumbs up' → Public apology [Star Issue] [Full Text]

*This content was translated by AI.

Mark (27, Mark Lee) of the group NCT caused a scandal immediately after leaving SM Entertainment and issued an apology statement. He wore a T-shirt featuring the Confederate flag, which is associated with the defense of slavery and is a symbol of racism.

Upper Room, Mark's one-person agency, posted a lengthy apology in English on its official Instagram story on the 23rd. Recent news that Mark was seen wearing a T-shirt with the Confederate flag sparked controversy. The Confederacy was a nation formed in 1861 by 11 southern U.S. states that seceded from the United States while insisting on slavery. Consequently, the Confederate flag is regarded as a symbol of white supremacy and racism.

Mark's side bowed its head, stating, "We sincerely apologize for the concern, discomfort, and disappointment caused by the vintage T-shirt that appeared in recently shared photos."

Regarding the background of Mark wearing the problematic T-shirt, he explained, "The clothing was chosen solely because it is a vintage item." The agency added, "However, we late realized the historical significance and sensitivity of the symbol displayed on the T-shirt and took measures to ensure it would not appear in official content. Despite these efforts, the image was shared externally, exposing the symbol. It is only natural that this caused concern among the public," expressing a reflective attitude.

In particular, Mark's side stated, "Regardless of intent, we acknowledge that this issue should have been handled with greater caution and care. We take full responsibility for this oversight. Upper Room and the artist in question (Mark) clearly reject and do not tolerate racism, hate, discrimination, or any form of exclusion or narrow-mindedness. We understand the seriousness of the raised concerns and deeply apologize for the pain caused by this incident."

It continued, "We also thank those who brought this issue to our attention. We value feedback and are listening to concerns. Accordingly, we will strengthen our internal review procedures for clothing selection and content approval to prevent similar incidents in the future. We sincerely apologize to those who were hurt, offended, or disappointed by this situation. We promise to act more responsibly, cautiously, and carefully going forward."

This is the first official statement released by Mark since establishing his agency, Upper Room, earlier this month, marking his debut with an apology and leaving a bitter taste.

Mark left all teams he belonged to, including NCT 127 and NCT DREAM, in April this year and parted ways with SM Entertainment as his exclusive contract expired. He then established his one-person agency, Upper Room, and embarked on a new beginning.

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*This content was translated by AI.