Former IZ*ONE Sakura Receives Flak Due to Her Chinese Fans Doing THIS

Former IZ*ONE member Sakura is receiving flak after the idol's Chinese fans did this for her birthday celebration.

Keep on reading to know more.

Former IZ*ONE Sakura Receives Flak Due to Chinese Fans' Advertisements for Her Birthday

Former IZ*ONE member Sakura is set to celebrate her 24th birthday this coming March 19. And within the K-Pop community, fans would hold weeks-long events and festivities to celebrate their favorite idol's birthday, and Sakura is no exception to that!

Recently on February 28, in honor of Sakura's upcoming birthday, the idol's Chinese fans had reportedly installed an electronic display located at the Samsung Station in Seoul, South Korea. According to reports, the birthday advertisement and the station will run for a month up until March 31.

While it is common for fans to put up billboards and electronic displays at subway stations, Sakura, however, is receiving flak from Korean fans due to the design that her Chinese fans had included in their electronic display.

According to Korean fans, Sakura's birthday display included a design that is reminiscent of the rising sun flag. The rising sun is a Japanese flag which features a red circle in the middle, with 16 red rays coming from the circle.

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While Japan considers the rising sun flag a part of their history, it is however, a reminder for many Asian countries of the war atrocities and human rights abuses done by Japanese forces in the past. Some say that it is comparable to the Nazi swastika.

Chinese Fans Change Sakura's Birthday Advertisement Following Criticism

Korean netizens who became aware of the birthday advertisement immediately criticized both Sakura and her Chinese fans. Some comments read, "I am confused that Chinese people are advertising Japanese singers in Korea," "Did you have to use the rising sun flag?," "Can't we protest to that?," and "The Seoul Transit Corporation who approved of that should be cursed."

Following the criticism, the Chinese fans stated that the design was based on comics, but announced that they urgently contacted the advertiser and would be changing the design.

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Meanwhile, Sakura made her debut as a member of Japan's HKT48. She gained fame after competing on Mnet's "Produce 48" and debuting in the project girl group IZ*ONE back in 2018.

After almost two years of promoting with the group, IZ*ONE officially disbanded back in April 2021, with Sakura and her fellow Japanese members returning to their hometowns in Japan.

However, Sakura returned to Korea back in August 2021 and has since then been speculated to be signing under HYBE's Source Music and preparing to debut with the label's new girl group.

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Written by Robyn Joan