Maroon 5 removes image of Rising Sun flag on website

Revised photo of Maroon 5's 2022 world tour announcement [MAROON 5 WEBSITE]

Pop band Maroon 5 took down the image of the Rising Sun flag on its website on Wednesday after criticism from Korean fans.

The image has been replaced with a photo of the Maroon 5 members.

On Monday, the band came under fire for using an image of the Rising Sun flag in its world tour announcement which was posted on July 3. The Rising Sun flag serves as a symbol of the Empire of Japan’s colonial rule (1910-45) of Korea and other former colonies.

Local netizens left comments like “This is an insult to Korean fans” and “The flag brings back traumatic history to Koreans” in reaction to the design.

The band is slated to perform on Nov. 30 at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro District, southern Seoul.

Maroon 5 debuted in 2002 and is best known for songs “This Love” (2002), “She Will Be Loved” (2002), “Sunday Morning” (2002), “Moves Like Jagger” (2011) and “One More Night” (2012).

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]