TWICE leader Jihyo unexpectedly became the center of a heated debate online after fans noticed the message on one of her accessories. In her latest Instagram post, Jihyo shared a close-up photo of herself wearing a halter top, jeans and a black baseball cap. At first glance, the hat seemed like a simple fashion item. However, some of the writing on the cap had been covered in emojis, making fans curious about the original design.
It didn’t take long for fans to find the real product. The cap reportedly bore the phrase “United against fascism”. The object comes from Radical Media Archive, a project that creates merchandise inspired by rare printed materials related to protest, imagination and collective belief. After Jihyo’s post gained attention, the specific hat she was wearing was reportedly sold out on the project’s website.
Since K-pop idols usually avoid anything that could be interpreted as political, Jihyo’s accessory immediately sparked divided reactions. Many fans praised her for wearing a cap with such a clear message. They saw the phrase “United against fascism” as significant and applauded her for being willing to show support for the statement, even indirectly.
However, the post also received criticism. Some people pointed out that Jihyo had censored some of the word “Fascism” with emoji in the original photo. The fact that the image was later deleted only increased attention to the controversy.
While some criticized her for hiding the message and then removing the post, others defended her. Fans argued that Jihyo probably needed to be careful because K-pop idols often face scrutiny, especially in South Korea, where even small gestures can be turned into major public debates.
Sources: Koreaboo
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