Adele is facing backlash from her Korean fans after using an image of the Rising Sun flag during her concert in Germany. The flag, which appeared on LED screens during her performance of “Rumour Has It,” has upset Korean fans due to its historical associations with Japan’s militarism.
Adele’s concert tour, which kicked off on August 3 in Munich, Germany, is a major event, expected to draw 800,000 attendees across ten performances. The Rising Sun flag, shown on a massive 220-meter-long outdoor screen, has caused controversy because it is seen in Korea as a symbol of imperialism and war crimes, similar to how the Swastika is perceived in Germany.
The use of this imagery has sparked outrage among Korean fans, who have taken to social media to express their frustration. Some have criticized what they see as a lack of awareness or sensitivity, with comments suggesting that the choice of symbol might be intentional or due to ignorance of its significance. There are concerns that the use of the Rising Sun flag in place of symbols considered taboo in Germany, like the Swastika, could be a deliberate choice rather than a simple mistake.