Chaeyoung, a member of Twice – one of the most globally successful K-pop groups – has “sincerely apologised” after wearing a T-shirt featuring a Nazi swastika.
In the now deleted photo, Chaeyoung, 23, posed wearing a T-shirt featuring Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious, who was sporting the symbol.
The young South Korean K-pop star posted an apology to her 8.6 million followers on Instagram, saying that she did not “correctly recognise the meaning of the tilted swastika in the T-shirt”.
The statement said: “I deeply apologise for not thoroughly reviewing it, causing concern. I will pay absolute attention in the future to prevent any situation similar from happening again.
“Sincerely apologise again.”
This was the second clothing-related controversy for the vocalist this week.
According to reports, Chaeyoung sparked backlash after performing in a crop top with the QAnon phrase “where we go one, we go all”, written across it.
The top also had an American flag in the shape of a Q printed on it.
Read more:
BTS: K-pop band members to do military service in South Korea
K-Pop singer and actor Lee Jihan, 24, killed in Seoul Halloween crowd crush
Twice, the nine-member pop group which Chaeyoung is a member, have enjoyed success both inside and outside of South Korea since their debut in 2015, with four of their albums reaching the US top 10.
Their first official English-language single, The Feels, became their first song to enter the UK Singles Chart, peaking at 80.
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
Click to subscribe to Backstage wherever you get your podcasts
While modern K-pop (Korean pop) grew in the 1990s, the genre’s popularity has grown exponentially in the past few years.
Other successes include fellow girl group Blackpink, who became the first Korean group to perform at US music festival Coachella, and seven-member boy band BTS, who became the first ever Korean act to land a UK number one album.
