Siwon's playful jab at Kim Hee Chul following Taegeukgi controversy

Super Junior's Siwon has delivered a pointed yet playful remark toward Kim Hee Chul, who recently apologized following a controversy involving an "upside-down Taegeukgi" image.

Emphasizing that he knows Kim's personality better than anyone through their 23-year relationship, Siwon drew attention by addressing Kim's recent behavior in his characteristic joking tone.

On the 11th, Siwon left a message for Kim on his SNS. He began by saying, "To add a cautious comment, I've watched him for 23 years, so we know each other very well truly."

He continued, "A person who wasn't like that lately has been acting kind, and perhaps because he's getting older and feeling social responsibility, he's speaking with so much politeness that many people seem to have missed his true intention."

The remark is interpreted as Siwon, looking at his long-time colleague through a familiar lens, indirectly commenting on Kim's uncharacteristically cautious and polite apology following the recent controversy.

Siwon added, "Since we are scheduled to meet next week, I'll listen to the full story in the 'Room of Truth' then." The expression 'Room of Truth' appears to be a way to emphasize a joke between close colleagues, reminiscent of a lighthearted interrogation.

The long relationship between the two provides context to the remark. As members of Super Junior, Siwon and Kim have been close for years, observing each other's tendencies and behaviors. Consequently, Siwon's comment feels more like a lighthearted tease from a longtime friend rather than an outsider's critique.

Previously, Kim Hee Chul found himself at the center of a controversy regarding a banner released by Incheon Metropolitan City to commemorate the 81st Liberation Day.

Incheon City released an image depicting an independence activist holding the Taegeukgi, but some netizens claimed the Taegeuk pattern appeared reversed, leading to accusations of an "upside-down Taegeukgi."

In response, Incheon City explained that the flag was not incorrectly produced, but that the effect was a visual illusion caused by the low-angle perspective of looking up at the activist waving the flag.

However, before confirming the city's explanation, Kim posted a sharp reaction on SNS, saying, "X, this is crazy."

After learning that the image was intended to show the flag from a low angle, Kim apologized, admitting his judgment was hasty.

"I failed to properly perceive the form of the person holding the Taegeukgi and reacted in anger just by looking at the Taegeuk drawing for a moment," he stated, adding, "It is clearly my fault caused by a lack of spatial awareness and haste." He concluded with a sincere apology, admitting his error in judgment.

This incident demonstrates how quickly emotional expressions on SNS can escalate into public issues. Given that the matter involved the Taegeukgi and Liberation Day—symbols of immense historical significance—the impact of a single remark was amplified.

At the same time, Kim's immediate admission of error and subsequent apology drew attention. While the speed of online spaces can lead to hasty judgments, publicly correcting oneself is a vital aspect of responsible public communication.

Siwon's remark appears to be a humorous way to highlight a colleague's personality rather than an attempt to escalate the controversy. However, as the line between a celebrity's private jokes and public messages can blur on SNS, even lighthearted comments can be interpreted in various ways by the public.

Ultimately, the 'Taegeukgi controversy' began with a visual misinterpretation, led to a celebrity's immediate reaction and apology, and concluded with a colleague's witty follow-up. Interest remains on how these two longtime companions will wrap up the episode.