Former NCT member Mark Lee has landed in controversy after photos of him wearing a T shirt featuring the Confederate flag spread across social media. The images were shared on June 23 by his newly launched agency, Upper Room, and quickly sparked criticism from fans around the world.
The controversy comes just months after Mark parted ways with NCT and SM Entertainment in April. Earlier this month, he announced the launch of his own label, Upper Room. However, attention soon shifted away from his new venture when online users noticed the symbol displayed on his shirt.
The Confederate flag is one of the most controversial symbols in American history. It is closely linked to the Confederate States, which fought during the American Civil War to preserve slavery. While some people have argued that the flag represents Southern heritage, many others view it as a symbol of racism, discrimination, and oppression. Because of its historical connection to slavery, the flag remains highly sensitive and often sparks strong reactions whenever it appears in public.
Ex-NCT member Mark faces first backlash after leaving the group, for wearing a confederate flag t-shirt and writing vague apology through his agencyhttps://t.co/Yfqr4xTeRf pic.twitter.com/zQnejJh80F
— pannchoa (@pannchoa) June 23, 2026
As photos of Mark wearing the shirt circulated online, social media users expressed a wide range of opinions. Some fans were shocked and demanded an explanation from the singer. Others suggested that Mark may not have fully understood the history and meaning behind the symbol. A number of users also argued that the backlash was excessive and that the shirt may have been worn without any harmful intention.
Following the growing criticism, Upper Room released an official apology through its Instagram Stories. The agency said it sincerely apologized for causing concern, discomfort, and disappointment. According to the statement, the shirt had been selected only as a vintage fashion item and was not intended to carry any political or social message.
The agency explained that after recognizing the historical sensitivity of the symbol, steps were taken to prevent the design from being visible in official content. However, the image was later shared externally, making the symbol visible to the public.
Upper Room acknowledged that the situation should have been handled more carefully and accepted responsibility for the incident. The company also stressed that both the agency and Mark strongly oppose racism, discrimination, hatred, and any form of bigotry.
The statement concluded with another apology to those who felt hurt or offended. While Upper Room maintained that there was no intention to promote the symbol, it admitted that greater care should have been taken to understand its historical and social significance before the photos were released.