Former NCT member Mark apologizes after photos circulated showing him wearing a vintage T-shirt featuring the Confederate flag. The incident draws rapid criticism from international fans, who link the Confederate symbol to white supremacy and racism. Mark, who has recently started a solo career, issues an apology through his new label, Upper Room, in a statement addressing the concern caused by the garment. The label says the shirt appeared in a recently shared photograph and that it caused “discomfort” and “disappointment.” Upper Room adds that the T-shirt was selected only as a vintage wardrobe item, describing the choice as a styling oversight rather than an endorsement of the symbol. Commentators also note the timing of the backlash around June 19, widely observed in the United States as Juneteenth, a holiday marking the end of slavery. Multiple reports frame the episode as an early test of cultural awareness for the newly independent solo artist, as fans respond to the use of a historically charged image.