BTS' Jungkook apologized after a photo of him wearing a hat with the words " Make Tokyo Great Again " circulated online and sparked controversy among South Korean netizens. The phrase sparked debate given the complex and troubled history between South Korea and Japan.
The writing on the black hat was considered sensitive because it contained political elements similar to US President Donald Trump's campaign slogan, " Make America Great Again." Jungkook, who recently completed his mandatory military service, posted a public apology letter via the fan community platform Weverse.
"Hello, this is Jungkook. My heart feels heavy because I'm writing this right after we met again. I'm sincerely sorry for disappointing and upsetting many people with the hat I wore during practice," Jungkook wrote, as quoted by Allkpop on Sunday June 15, 2025.
Jungkook admitted he was negligent and regretted not checking the historical and political context of the writing on the hat first. "Due to my negligence, I went on stage wearing a hat without examining the historical and political implications of the words. I apologize and offer no excuses; my carelessness caused this situation," he continued.
The man born in 1997 also confirmed that the hat had been immediately thrown away and promised to be more careful in his actions in the future. "I humbly accept all criticism directed at me for my mistakes. The hat will be thrown away soon, and once again, I apologize," Jungkook concluded.
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