Designer Comments On BTS’s Postponed “Music Station� Appearance + Meaning Behind T-Shirt

[Map_Linh]

The CEO of the t-shirt design company explained the graphics on Jimin’s t-shirt and commented on BTS’s postponed “Music Station†appearance.

 

Previously, Big Hit Entertainment and “Music Station†both confirmed that BTS’s appearance on the show had been postponed. “Music Station†stated that the postponement was due to the controversy over BTS member Jimin wearing a t-shirt commemorating the day that Korea was liberated from Japanese colonial rule in 1945. The t-shirt included graphics of Koreans celebrating liberation and an atomic bomb detonating in Japan, which contributed to Japan’s surrender to the Allied forces and thereby Korea’s liberation.

 

On November 9, CEO Lee Kwang Jae of LJ Company (the t-shirt design company) held an interview where he talked about the controversy. He remarked, “When I first started the brand, street fashion was the trend. At the time, I was personally quite interested in history. So I made the t-shirts, thinking that if I put a sense of history into the fashion that young people wore, they might become interested in history.â€

 

Lee Kwang Jae then commented on the controversial atomic bomb image, saying, “I did not include that part to mock Japan. I did it to express the historic truth and timing that after the atomic bomb was detonated, Japan’s unconditional surrender led to independence.â€

 

On the group’s appearance on “Music Station†being postponed due to controversy over the t-shirt, he commented, “After I found out, I was very flustered and apologetic. I had no intention to promote anti-Japanese sentiment, and so I’m very sorry towards BTS.â€

 

Big Hit Entertainment also gave a brief statement saying, “There will not be any big changes to [the group’s] promotions in Japan.â€

 

https://www.soompi.com/article/1260311wpp/designer-comments-btss-postponed-music-station-appearance-meaning-behind-t-shirt

[ASS]

Interesting

[BeatrixKiddo]

Well this is a key example of good(ish) intentions not always leading to good outcomes. 

[Yonaisablink]

“I did not include that part to mock Japan. I did it to express the historic truth and timing that after the atomic bomb was detonated, Japan’s unconditional surrender led to independence.â€

 

Sorry but this still seems like celebrating thousands of innocent deaths. This shirt should have just celebrated independence and left the bomb out of it.

[love&pink]

he seems genuine but there are still countless of other ways to celebrate korea's liberation... using that tragedy just isn't right no matter what the intentions were 

[Polaris_Tae]

Sorry but this still seems like celebrating thousands of innocent deaths. This shirt should have just celebrated independence and left the bomb out of it.

 

tbh how did he even think of that image, I looked up Korean independence/liberation both on google and Naver in English and Korean, and neither of them shows the results even similar to that image

 

 

ETA: this is the closest A-Bomb image using the above keywords I could find and it's not even in Korea but Hawaii

 

 

 

[PeachyKeys!]

Dumbass.

[classiq]

He finally made a response. Good to see. It'll be nice if BH does the same

As for the designer, the picture changed the tone of the message that he wanted to convey

 

 

This shirt should have just celebrated independence and left the bomb out of it.

[JihyoStoleMyHeartAYAYAY]

Interesting

[Midou Ban]

“I did not include that part to mock Japan. I did it to express the historic truth and timing that after the atomic bomb was detonated, Japan’s unconditional surrender led to independence.â€

 

Sorry but this still seems like celebrating thousands of innocent deaths. This shirt should have just celebrated independence and left the bomb out of it.

[swagger]

Every time I see the word "designer" related to this topic I'm thinking the rapper "designer" who rapped on remix ver. of mic drop and thinking... why is he getting involved with this...

[fourplay]

So basically he is using the same dumb excuse as everyone who thinks there's nothing wrong about adding that image.

[Seulgi's jams]

trying to be reasonable here is not the right choice when you have bighit acting like nothing happened... D:

[AquaBlue]

You know what I wish? Jimin apologizing this week in front of J-ARMYS during one of their Tokyo dome concerts or any concert. I fully understand that this will not be good back home, but it is the right thing to do. Wearing that shirt was a huge mistake and Jimin should apologize to his Japanese fans because they are dealing with so much hatred back in Japan. I can't imagine how controversial this would be in Korea though. 1.) A lot of K-armys will not be happy because of their hate boner towards J-armys and they'll think that BTS favors J-armys over them 2.) The apology will definitely be shown on news broadcasts and the general public will most likely drag them or be unhappy. Bighit/Jimin needs to speak up and solve the situation that they caused. 

[Sdm]

It's one thing to be relieved about someone else's horrible tragedy that indirectly ended your own misery. But to deliberately put those feelings on a t-shirt for commercial use is just dumb and tactless. Whatever his intentions were, the shirt is still stupid af

[Iceprince]

[Rice Baby]

*typing keyword related to history / WW2 / Korean independence

 

"Oh a cool explosion image coming out, lets use this, who doesnt love explosion, like..thats how michel bay make movie" 

[MinAi]

Well one of my question finally get the answer. This is why after talking from with both japan and korean friends, i can't really judge how korean might feel about the t-shirt because this is a popular streetwear in korea, but idk why some people here acting like it's jimin who design it and only jimin who wear that.

Actually the reason is understandable, the only thing that bother people so much is The bomb pic which is clearly a poor taste. It shouldn't be there.

[Kayou]

I hope his explanation will also blow up because well... he shares part of the responsibility for thinking that the design is edgy and shit and he's still selling it. There are a lot more pictures that could glorify independence in much positive way. 

sadly, I bet it won't

 

again, people from different country has a different view about ww2 compared to those who came from countries that was directly affected by Japan during ww2 like us. 

[MinAi]

*typing keyword related to history / WW2 / Korean independence

 

"Oh a cool explosion image coming out, lets use this, who doesnt love explosion, like..thats how michel bay make movie"

Pretty sure that's not what he said.

[HoMaLiAk]

I'm tired 

[KJBrosENT]

Every time I see the word "designer" related to this topic I'm thinking the rapper "designer" who rapped on remix ver. of mic drop and thinking... why is he getting involved with this...

[TaeGiElitist]

So like he was trying edgy fashion. He don't need to apologise to bts no one forced him to wear it.

[yuudaa]

“I did not include that part to mock Japan. I did it to express the historic truth and timing that after the atomic bomb was detonated, Japan’s unconditional surrender led to independence.â€

Sorry but this still seems like celebrating thousands of innocent deaths. This shirt should have just celebrated independence and left the bomb out of it.

This totally. I wasn't that bothered with the shirt at first but the moment he said this turned me off. Idk if it's the translations but he sounded even more mocking to me.

[CunningStunt]

for someone who "interested in history" he doesnt seem to understand THE history..