XODIAC Light Stick Design Withdrawn After Religious Symbol Concerns

XODIAC’s agency has withdrawn a newly revealed light stick design and announced plans to replace it after viewers raised concerns about religious imagery. JACSO Entertainment said it had heard the public response and would develop a new version intended to avoid misunderstanding.

The issue emerged after XODIAC introduced merchandise ahead of several live performances. The collection included the boy group’s first official light stick, giving fans an early look at a product designed to become part of the group’s concert identity.

The revealed model used intersecting geometric forms built around the letter X, continuing a motif seen in an earlier light stick version associated with the group. Some viewers said the arrangement resembled the Star of David, the six-pointed emblem widely recognized as a symbol of Jewish identity and also displayed on Israel’s flag.

The design was removed soon after its reveal

The resemblance prompted discussion shortly after the promotional material appeared. The video showing the new light stick was then made private, removing the initial presentation from public view while the company considered the concerns.

JACSO Entertainment followed with a notice stating that it had listened to the responses. The agency said it would work on a new light stick design and release it as soon as possible, specifically identifying the goal of preventing religious misunderstandings.

The statement did not argue with viewers’ interpretation or claim that the resemblance was intentional. Instead, it focused on the next production step: replacing the concept. That distinction keeps the available facts centered on the visible design and the company’s response rather than on an unverified explanation of how the imagery was chosen.

A rapid change before wider use

The decision came at an early point in the product’s public life. The light stick had been presented as part of an upcoming merchandise lineup, and the promotional video was withdrawn soon after the criticism began. No revised appearance or new release date was included in the notice.

Several practical details therefore remain open. The agency has not said whether the replacement will retain the X motif, when a new prototype will be shown, or whether the change will affect merchandise availability for the scheduled performances.

Official light sticks serve both practical and symbolic roles in K-pop. Fans use them to create coordinated lighting during performances, while their shapes and colors often become immediately recognizable visual markers for a group. Because the products are displayed repeatedly at concerts and in promotional images, even a simple geometric choice can attract close scrutiny.

In this case, the agency’s quick commitment to a new design limits the likelihood that the disputed version will become established as XODIAC’s long-term concert symbol. The next reveal will also show how the company preserves the group’s visual identity while creating greater distance from the image that caused concern.

Context for XODIAC’s current activities

XODIAC debuted on April 25, 2023, with the digital single Throw a Dice after being introduced through the OCJ NEWBIES trainee project. The group’s latest musical release is its third mini-album, Phantom Fire.

The merchandise announcement arrived as XODIAC prepared for additional live appearances, making the timing of the light stick significant for fans expecting to use it at performances. A redesigned product could still fill that role, although the agency has not provided a timetable beyond saying it will make the replacement available as soon as possible.

Initial fan responses highlighted appreciation for the company’s willingness to act on the concerns. The episode now moves from a withdrawn promotional reveal to a redesign process, with attention likely to remain on how JACSO Entertainment changes the geometry of the product before presenting XODIAC’s next official light stick.