BTS Jungkook's Make-Tokyo-Great-Again hat controversy forces brand to apologise after sell-out frenzy: ‘The design isn't political, but…'

Indian Express

15-06-2025

BTS' Jungkook was discharged on June 12, and the first thing he did was to apologise for a controversial fashion choice. The youngest member of the South Korean band was seen rehearsing in a behind-the-scenes photo for J-Hope's 'Hope on the Stage Final' at Goyang Sports Complex, where he was set to perform a special segment. In the photo, the K-pop star was spotted wearing a black cap that read Make Tokyo Great Again. While it might have looked like a harmless fashion pick to global audience, in Korea, it triggered massive backlash given the painful history between Japan and South Korea. Riding the controversy, the brand behind the cap, which earlier scored free promo and saw the stock fly off shelves, was then forced to apologise and clarify that the design was never intended to be political.
Also read: BTS' fans debate if Jungkook knew history before wearing Make Tokyo Great Again cap; K-pop star apologises for being 'careless'
Jungkook wasted no time, penning a long note on Weverse before HYBE could step in, saying he had discarded the hat right away. However, soon after, the brand BASICKS behind the cap jumped on the free promo. Taking to their Instagram Stories, they boasted about being completely sold out, even using the Seven crooner's pic to ride the wave. But a few hours later, as Korean netizens fumed with anger, the Japanese brand was forced to release a statement. They apologised to anyone who felt uncomfortable but clarified they never meant for the design to be political. 'That said, we believe in the freedom to express ideas through fashion. This design was not intended to convey any political stance; rather, it was an iconic way to express our hopes for a thriving Tokyo fashion scene.'
Meanwhile, Jungkook kept taking heat, and HYBE's attempt to handle the mess only made it worse. Fans called out the agency for trying to manipulate the media and divert attention from the controversy. Right after the hat drama blew up, NewJeans, another HYBE group under its subsidiary ADOR, got dragged into a separate mess. The five-member girl group is already locked in a lawsuit against the agency, seeking separation, making it clear things aren't smooth between them. Then, out of nowhere, old clubbing photos of Danielle and Haerin resurfaced. Some claimed HYBE deliberately leaked these pictures to shift the focus away from Jungkook's scandal.
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Even in America, where K-pop and BTS enjoy a huge fanbase, the controversy didn't sit well as the cap echoed the same energy as Donald Trump's MAGA hat. Trump's administration is currently facing heavy scrutiny because of anti-immigrant policies, including those targeting Asian-Americans. In South Korea, the matter was even more sensitive, and it came just days after aespa member Karina got dragged into a similar mess. It is widely believed that Tokyo's governor, Yuriko Koike, who has been accused of holding anti-Korean views, once used similar wording.