BTS' fans debate if Jungkook knew history before wearing Make Tokyo Great Again cap; K-pop star apologises for being ‘careless'

Indian Express

14 hours ago

BTS' Jungkook had recently completed his military service and made his return to the stage after a long break. The K-pop star was rehearsing for J-Hope's HOPE ON THE STAGE concert in Goyang, a surprise act marking the group's 12th anniversary at FESTA 2025. However, then backstage pictures of the members started surfacing, and one shot of the Euphoria crooner quickly went viral. Jungkook was seen wearing a black cap with the phrase, 'Make Tokyo Great Again' printed on it. At first, it might've looked like another version of 'Make America Great Again,' but the wording triggered instant outrage among Korean netizens, given the history between the two nations. Jungkook has since apologised for wearing the cap, but fans are now divided, questioning whether he truly understood the weight of what he was wearing.
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'It weighs heavily on my heart to write this after seeing you all again after such a long time.' As backlash grew, Jungkook didn't wait for his agency, HYBE, to step in and penned a long apology note on Weverse. He admitted to disappointing and hurting sentiments of fans over the cap and confessed he didn't fully understand the political and historical significance behind the phrase before wearing it 'carelessly'. 'I fully acknowledge my lack of awareness and care that has led to disappointment and hurt,' he wrote. Jungkook made it clear there was no excuse, regardless of the reason. ' It was my fault and I was careless. From now on, I will think deeply about every decision and act more carefully. I humbly accept all the criticism and concerns regarding my mistake.'
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It is widely believed that in Japan, politicians like Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko used this same phrase in the context of Japanese nationalism. At times, it's been linked to national pride, anti-Korean sentiments, and even historical denial tied to Japan's colonisation of Korea. Today, the country remains one of the biggest markets for K-pop, with almost every group flocking there where album sales hit the roof. But these two countries share a long, complicated, and painful past, especially Japan's rule over Korea from 1910 to 1945. And thus, making any reference to that period highly sensitive in Korea.
Jungkook's quick apology instantly slowed down the backlash, with many praising him for taking full responsibility without trying to explain it away or shift blame. 'I respect Jungkook for handling it so maturely. The fact that he didn't even wait for a statement but addressed it himself, apologised, and shut it down before it could escalate,' one wrote.
But some were still left deeply disappointed and questioned how he could be so unaware of such a sensitive issue. 'Not a single staff member stopped this?' one asked. 'I can't accept Jungkook's ignorance,' another said. 'I'm not even a fan, but if you just skim the phrase, it can sound as random as 'Paris in the Rain' or 'London Bagel Museum.' But I do think it's possible he really didn't know,' a third pointed out. 'I'm an ARMY, but I honestly believe Jungkook wore it without knowing. That said, even if he didn't know, it was still wrong and there's no excuse.' A fourth chimed in, 'The bigger debate is whether he wore it intentionally. But it's hard to believe anyone would publicly wear something like that if they were willing to risk everything they've built, It's a serious problem if a celebrity doesn't know this kind of stuff in today's climate.'