"They've Really Crossed the Line"... Japanese Users Mock with 'South Korean National Flag Composite' After Rising Sun Flag Cheer Complaint

[Financial News] At the 2026 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) North American World Cup, controversy erupted after a Japanese cheering section displayed the Rising Sun Flag in the stadium. Seo Kyoung-duk, a professor at Sungshin Women's University who criticized the act, said he is now facing indiscriminate attacks from Japanese users on social networking services (SNS). The backlash has intensified as some have even sent mocking images that composite the Rising Sun Flag onto the South Korean national flag.
On the 24th, Professor Seo said on his SNS, "After I filed an official complaint with FIFA over the Japanese cheering section's display of the Rising Sun Flag, a symbol of militarism, during the North American World Cup qualifiers, Yahoo! Japan exploded." He added, "Related articles have topped the main news section, and thousands of comments have been posted, making it a major issue."
Earlier, on the 21st, controversy arose when Japanese supporters displayed the Rising Sun Flag in the stadium during the group-stage match between Japan and Tunisia at Monterrey Stadium in Mexico for the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup.
In Japan's first-round qualifiers, no in-stadium cheering with the Rising Sun Flag was confirmed, although the flag had already sparked controversy when it was used during street cheering in Japan. But in the match between Japan and Tunisia, cameras captured the Japanese cheering section displaying the Rising Sun Flag inside the stadium.
The Rising Sun Flag is a banner that Japan prominently used in the past when invading Asian countries, including during the Pacific War. It symbolizes militarism and imperialism.
Seo, who has led campaigns to eliminate the Rising Sun Flag around the world, had said on the 21st that he planned to report the case to FIFA before Japan's third-round qualifiers begin and request measures to prevent a repeat.
Seo said, "I also know very well that the Rising Sun Flag has been used by Japanese people to mean things like a good catch or childbirth." He added, "But they are completely ignoring the fact that it was used as a flag Japan put forward when invading Asian countries, including during the Pacific War."
He continued, "It is truly foolish not to acknowledge history correctly." He added, "I suspect it hurts them that I complained to FIFA based on historical facts in order to correct what is wrong."
Seo said, "They could just attack me, but instead they keep compositing the Rising Sun Flag onto our South Korean national flag and sending it to my DM." He asked, "Do they think this will hide or change the history of the Rising Sun Flag?"
He added, "My activities must be making them very afraid." He emphasized, "I will do my best to turn the attacks from Japanese users into an opportunity to properly inform the world about the history of the Rising Sun Flag."
 
newssu@fnnews.com Kim Soo-yeon Reporter