By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-06-23 20:07:02 | Updated at 2026-06-23 21:01:21
1 hour ago
A former K-pop band member has been slammed by horrified fans after he was pictured wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with a Confederate flag.
Mark Lee, who was once part of South Korean pop group NCT, was snapped wearing the gray baseball-style top during a meet-and-greet with fans.
Photos of the 26-year-old singer, who was born in Canada, were widely shared online, where they sparked fury from viewers.
'Let's not make excuses for him. It's 2026, he's a grown man who grew up in Toronto and also spent many years living in New York. I don't believe for a second he doesn't know what that flag means,' one furious person wrote.
'Mark is Canadian, he even lived in the US, there is no way he doesn't know what that flag is...' agreed another.
'Same. I saw the apology but not the shirt, and I was expecting it to be something small in the background that they didn't notice. I was not prepared for it to be a giant Confederate flag with Virginia in huge letters down the sleeve,' wrote another shocked fan.
The pictures have since been deleted from Instagram but were shared to Reddit.
In response to the images, Lee's agency, Upper Room, issued an official apology via Instagram on Tuesday morning, claiming the T-shirt was vintage and they didn't immediately recognize the symbol on it.
Mark Lee, who is a former member of the South Korean pop group NCT, was snapped wearing a gray baseball-style T-shirt that featured a symbol that appeared to be the Confederate flag
Upper Room wrote: '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,' it continued.
'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.'
The label continued, saying that despite trying to hide the symbol in photographs, it made its way into the public eye, which caused '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,' it said.
'Upper Room and the artist unequivocally reject and do not tolerate racism, hate, discrimination, or any form of intolerance,' it wrote, adding they understand the 'seriousness of the concerns that have been raised' and 'deeply regret the distress the 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,' they continued.
The agency also pledged to strengthen its 'internal review procedures for wardrobe selection and content approval to help prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.'
His agency, Upper Room, later shared their apologies online in a lengthy statement
Photos of the 26-year-old singer, who was born in Canada, in the shirt were widely shared online, sparking fury from fans
Horrified fans slammed the former K-pop member after he was pictured wearing a T-shirt with a Confederate flag on it
'We sincerely apologize to everyone who was hurt, offended or disappointed by this situation,' it concluded the statement. 'We remain committed to acting with greater responsibility, awareness, and care moving forward.'
The Confederate flag symbolizes the Confederate States of America, which advocated for the preservation of slavery during the American Civil War.
The symbol is now often seen as a symbol of racial discrimination and white supremacy.
Lee officially left the K-pop group NCT after a decade with the SM Entertainment acts in April 2026.
