NCT’s Mark Apologizes Officially for Outrage Over Outfit Featuring Confederate Emblem

Wearing a Symbol of Taboo… Mark, Who Set Out on His Own, Faces a Painful Global Misstep

Mark, a former member of NCT, hit a deadly obstacle right after launching his solo activities. The 'Confederate flag' pattern in the outfit he wore sparked a furious backlash from global fandom.

The flag of the Confederacy, which supported slavery during the U.S. Civil War, is now among the most recognizable hate symbols representing 'white supremacy' and 'racial discrimination'. As the controversy snowballed, Mark’s solo agency, 'Upper Room', immediately issued an English apology statement and moved to evolve.

The agency said, "We only wore it as a simple 'vintage item' and only later recognized its historical sensitivity," and bowed its head in apology. For Mark, who left SM Entertainment last April and declared his move to go independent, this 'lack of historical awareness' controversy is likely to leave a damaging mark on his artist branding. At this point, it’s urgent to implement a thorough costume review and build a risk-management system that aligns with global standards.