By Nam Hyun-woo
The manufacturers of a mobile phone case based in Italy has angered some Korean netizens because of what they say, is an insincere reply to a protest written on Facebook against the companys use of the Japanese wartime Rising Sun flag on the back of its iPhone cover.
After the Facebook user posted his comment, the case maker, Benjamins initially replied that: It is nothing more than a simple phone case, adding that, you should not buy the case if you dont like it.
This caused a strong backlash from Internet users in and outside Korea. As online criticism increased, the company posted a written apology on its official Facebook page Friday.
For all Koreans, we are really sorry for what happened... but the flag we used is not a war flag but used even before the World War II, used still now in (Japanese) Marine and in peaceful sport events. So nothing is strictly linked to war actions or to even worst things that happened, wrote the company in its reply.
The Imperial Japanese Army used the flag during the conquest of East Asia from the 19th and 20th centuries until the end of World War II, and the Japan Self-Defense Forces has since been using a slightly-modified version.
Facebook users strongly denounced the apology saying it demonstrates a basic misunderstanding of history.
The image of controversial case, called the Japanese Vintage Flag case, was deleted on the companys online shop, Friday.