BTS’ Jungkook sparks outrage with ‘Make Tokyo Great Again’ hat, brand forced to apologise-OxBig News Network

K-pop band BTS’s members Jungkook (L) and Jimin (R) salute after being discharged from a mandatory military service on June 11, 2025 in Yeoncheon-gun, South Korea
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

BTS’ Jungkook found himself at the center of a firestorm this week after a behind-the-scenes photo showed him wearing a cap that read “Make Tokyo Great Again.” The image, snapped during rehearsals for J-Hope’s Hope on the Stage Final at Goyang Sports Complex, triggered swift backlash in South Korea, where tensions over Japan’s colonial past remain raw.

The cap, produced by Japanese brand BASICKS, bore an uncanny resemblance to Donald Trump’s MAGA slogan — a detail not lost on American fans either. In the U.S., where BTS has a massive following, many were quick to draw parallels to the divisive politics surrounding Trump’s anti-immigrant policies, including those impacting Asian-American communities.

Jungkook, just days after his military discharge, wasted no time responding. He posted an apology on Weverse, explaining that he discarded the hat immediately after realising its potential to offend.

Adding fuel to the fire, BASICKS initially celebrated the controversy, boasting on Instagram about the cap selling out and even using Jungkook’s image. Hours later, after facing mounting criticism from Korean netizens, the brand issued an apology. “This design was not intended to convey any political stance; rather, it was an iconic way to express our hopes for a thriving Tokyo fashion scene,” they said, insisting no offense was meant.

The incident also reignited scrutiny of HYBE’s handling of scandals. Fans accused the agency of trying to deflect attention, pointing to the sudden resurfacing of old photos of NewJeans members, as tensions rise within HYBE’s ranks.