On Sunday, the 25-year-old K-Pop singer (and member of girl group GFriend) shared a since-deleted Instagram post, in which she was seen posing with and hugging a mannequin that was dressed in a Nazi uniform.
Sowon (née Kim So-jung) "is feeling a profound sense of responsibility and deep regret for having uploaded the photographs," according to the record label.
"Staff members tasked with reviewing the site on the day of the shoot failed to realize that there were serious issues with the clothing and props on the mannequins."
Source Music also acknowledged the importance of social awareness, saying: "We would like to apologize for failing to recognize prior to the shoot that there were inappropriate props located on the premises, neglecting to carry out a careful review of the footage and photographs before uploading them, and failing to maintain sufficient awareness of issues with vast historical and social implications."
On Twitter, some music listeners expressed relief that the issue has been addressed while others believe Sowon had already known better and could not have really been "surprised" to learn what the mannequin's attire symbolized.
In 2018, Jewish human rights group the Simon Wiesenthal Center accused BTS of "mocking the past" after one member wore a T-shirt that appeared to celebrate the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
- K-pop star Sowon apologizes for flirty pictures with Nazi mannequinWRAL.com
- K-pop star Sowon is sorry for posing with a Nazi mannequinNew York Daily News
- K-pop star apologizes for hugging Nazi mannequinBoing Boing
- Sowon: K-pop star apologises over 'Nazi mannequin' imageBBC News
- K-pop star faces backlash after posing with mannequin donning Nazi uniformYnetnews
- GFriend's nazi scandal explained: Fans are outraged at Sowon and SinBMonsters and Critics
- GFRIEND's Sowon faces backlash after posting pic with Nazi statue; Agency says she's heartbroken over uploadsPINKVILLA
- GFRIEND's label responds after Sowon shares photos with 'Nazi' statueMetro
- GFriends's Sowon: Why is there a backlash against the K-Pop star?MSN UK
