KBS apologizes for broadcasting reversed national flag image on Liberation Day

KBS has addressed the controversy behind broadcasting a reversed graphic image of the Korean flag and “Madame Butterfly,” an Italian opera set in Japan, on Thursday, which is Liberation Day.

A reversed graphic image of the Korean flag was broadcast on a KBS morning news segment on Thursday, which is Liberation Day. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

KBS has addressed the controversy behind broadcasting a reversed graphic image of the Korean flag and “Madame Butterfly,” an Italian opera set in Japan, on Thursday, which is Liberation Day.

The Korean flag, Taegeukgi, was shown in a mirrored form during the weather report of a morning news segment on the same day. This ultimately changed the direction of the flag’s round red and blue taegeuk symbol and the location of the black trigrams.

The national broadcaster was already facing backlash over transmitting “Madame Butterfly” as its first show of the day at 12 a.m. The 1904 opera by Giacomo Puccini features "Kimigayo," the national anthem of Japan, and kimonos.

Viewers voiced their complaints on the KBS website, criticizing KBS’s choice of broadcasting the show on Liberation Day, which is a national holiday that commemorates the independence activists who died for the country in the process of Korea breaking free from Japan’s colonial rule (1910-45).

KBS followed with a statement apologizing for the error regarding the Korean flag, saying that the image was edited “promptly” and that the video now shows the correct form of the flag on the broadcaster’s website.

As for “Madame Butterfly,” KBS said it would “investigate the broadcast to hold those responsible to account and to be more attentive to its productions.”

There have also been complaints by viewers about KBS’s choice to broadcast the documentary film “The Origin of Miracles,” which follows the life of President Syngman Rhee (1875-1965). The film has been criticized for glamorizing Rhee and his presidency.

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]