Netizens attacked him after he confused the Buddhist symbol with a Nazi symbol.
Koreaboo
Recently, a new photo of BTS‘S RMwho is currently undertaking compulsory military service, it emerged. He appeared in his military uniform with an additional badge which sparked reactions.
New Year’s Eve with Namjoon 🥺🎉 pic.twitter.com/BRRfzPWYGj
— POP NOW (@popnows) January 1, 2025
Netizens noticed that a swastika appeared in the center of RM’s badge. So, they claimed it was the Nazi symbol, even though the swastika is slanted.
Fans leapt to RM’s defense, explaining that his specific badge was that of military officers who performed religious duties within their units (e.g., chaplains within units who provide spiritual counseling and guidance to fellow soldiers) . RM’s badge is specifically representative of Buddhism, as the swastika was a Buddhist symbol before the Nazis appropriated it. It is used as a symbol of Buddhism, as the cross represents Christianity.
translation:
The badge Namjoon wears is that of military officers (군종병) who perform religious duties within their units. the specific badge Namjoon wears is for Buddhism. pic.twitter.com/muTGTEEUmF
— ❀ ✿ (@wintertaeta2) September 17, 2024
In Korean, this symbol (卍) has cultural and religious meaning, particularly in Buddhism, where it represents auspiciousness, eternity, and the teachings of the Buddha. It is not associated with the Nazi symbol, which is rotated and has a completely different meaning. pic.twitter.com/JTZ2mpBQ0u
— ciéდ (@Iivserene) January 1, 2025
In Korean, the symbol (卍) has cultural and religious meaning, where it can represent “universal harmony, prosperity, good luck, abundance, dharma, fertility, long life and eternity.” So it is not associated with the Nazi symbol, which has a totally different meaning.
In Buddhist tradition, the swastika symbolizes the feet, or footprints, of the Buddha. It is often placed at the beginning and end of inscriptions, and modern Tibetan Buddhists use it as a decoration on clothing. With the spread of Buddhism, the swastika entered the iconography of China and Japan, where it was used to denote plurality, abundance, prosperity and long life.
— British
Information is power, haters. pic.twitter.com/7l1WkY4pXS
— Hashimoto ⟭⟬ ⁷ (@hashimoto1279) January 2, 2025
For… reasons, I thought I’d share two photos I took at Samgwangsa Temple in Busan. It’s really beautiful! We were there around Buddha’s birthday, so the gardens were decorated with thousands of lanterns with Buddhist symbols.
Knowledge saves you from embarrassment. Do you know? pic.twitter.com/tR60AHzIqU
— Cypher⁷ / Shesawseesaw (@cypherluscious) January 1, 2025
Cultural context matters.
