Australian surfer repaints boards after complaint from Korea

Australian surfer Jack Robinson has painted over the rising sun design on his board following a complaint from Korean officials.

Jack Robinson of Australia rides a wave [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Australian surfer Jack Robinson has painted over the rising sun design on his board following a complaint from Korean officials.

Robinson, who has qualified for the semifinals, had been surfing on a board featuring a prominent red and white sun design reminiscent of the Japanese imperial Rising Sun Flag. The design had been intended as a tribute to Hawaiian surfing legend Andy Irons, who had also surfed with a similar design on the underside of his boards.

An image of Jack Robinson's original surfboard design uploaded on his personal Instagram account [SCREEN CAPTURE]

The Rising Sun flag is considered highly offensive in parts of East Asia including Korea, where it is seen as a symbol of imperial Japan’s wartime aggression and militarism, similar to the Nazi swastika. Japanese military occupation of Korea lasted from 1910 until 1945.

“I saw his post, thinking that board can’t be used because Olympics is a pure sports event,” Song Min, Korea’s surf team manager, told Reuters. Song acknowledged the Irons symbolism, but said “I do want to tell people that even if this design is chosen out of personal views, it can be embarrassing”.

“This isn’t about South Korea protesting but this is what invokes some people’s scars so it should be banned for use despite freedom of expression.”

Korean officials raised their concerns with the Australian Olympic Committee, and Robinson repainted the underside of his boards red.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]