Former NCT member MARK has officially apologized following a controversy over his outfit.
On June 24, MARK’s agency, Upper Room, released an official statement on social media, stating, "We would like to extend our sincere apologies for the concern, discomfort, and disappointment caused by the vintage T-shirt that appeared in a recently shared photograph."
The controversy arose after photos of MARK wearing a vintage T-shirt featuring the Confederate flag were recently shared online.
The Confederate flag, which represented the southern states that advocated for the preservation of slavery and seceded from the Union during the American Civil War, has since been widely recognized as a symbol of white supremacy, racism, and hate. Both domestic and international fans criticized the outfit choice as inappropriate, pointing out a failure to consider the historical weight of the symbol. In particular, critics questioned how MARK, a Canadian-born artist from North America, could have overlooked the extreme sensitivity of such a symbol.
In response, Upper Room explained, "The garment was selected solely as a vintage wardrobe item. However, upon recognizing the historical significance and sensitivity associated with the symbol displayed on the T-shirt, we took measures to ensure that it would not be visible in any official content." They added, "Despite these efforts, the image was subsequently shared externally, resulting in the symbol being visible and causing understandable concern among members of the public. Regardless of intent, we recognize that this matter should have been handled with greater diligence and care. We take full responsibility for this oversight."
The agency continued, "Upper Room and the artist unequivocally reject and do not tolerate racism, hate, discrimination, or any form of intolerance. We understand the seriousness of the concerns that have been raised and deeply regret the distress this incident has caused."
They added, "In response, we will strengthen our internal review procedures for wardrobe selection and content approval to help prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. We sincerely apologize to everyone who was hurt, offended, or disappointed by this situation. We remain committed to acting with greater responsibility, awareness, and care moving forward."
MARK, a Korean-Canadian artist, has enjoyed global popularity through his activities in NCT 127, NCT DREAM, and NCT U. In April, he announced the conclusion of his exclusive contract with SM Entertainment and his departure from the group, sharing that he had deeply contemplated his future path.
Below is the full text of Upper Room's official statement.
Hello, this is Upper Room.
We would like to extend our sincere apologies for the concern, discomfort, and disappointment caused by the vintage T-shirt that appeared in a recently shared photograph.
The garment was selected solely as a vintage wardrobe item. However, upon recognizing the historical significance and sensitivity associated with the symbol displayed on the T-shirt, we took measures to ensure that it would not be visible in any official content. Despite these efforts, the image was subsequently shared externally, resulting in the symbol being visible and causing understandable concern among members of the public.
Regardless of intent, we recognize that this matter should have been handled with greater diligence and care. We take full responsibility for this oversight.
Upper Room and the artist unequivocally reject and do not tolerate racism, hate, discrimination, or any form of intolerance. We understand the seriousness of the concerns that have been raised and deeply regret the distress this incident has caused.
We are also grateful to those who brought this matter to our attention. We value the feedback we have received and are carefully listening to the concerns expressed by our community. In response, we will strengthen our internal review procedures for wardrobe selection and content approval to help prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
We sincerely apologize to everyone who was hurt, offended, or disappointed by this situation. We remain committed to acting with greater responsibility, awareness, and care moving forward.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)