Apple avoids hand gesture mocking penis size in South Korean iPad mini ad

Apple has used a different promotional image for its 2026 iPad mini on its South Korean website, removing the hand holding the device between the thumb and index finger, a gesture that has sparked controversy in the country.

The image used on Apple’s websites in Thailand, the United States and other markets shows a hand pinching the tablet along its edge to highlight its slim 5.4mm profile. On the South Korean website, the same side view appears without a hand.

Apple has not explained the difference, but the change has prompted speculation that it is intended to avoid controversy surrounding the so-called “pinching hand” gesture in South Korea.

Known locally as “jipge-son” (집게손), the gesture involves bringing the thumb and index finger close together. Some groups online interpret it as mocking men over the size of their genitals, making it a sensitive symbol in the country.

The gesture has previously sparked backlash when perceived to appear in advertising and promotional materials, with several companies in South Korea reportedly withdrawing or revising campaigns following criticism.

This is not the first time Apple has used a hand-free promotional image for a slim device on its South Korean website. In September 2025, the company also displayed the iPhone Air without a hand holding it, while images featuring the pinching gesture remained on its websites in other countries.

The repeated difference has led to speculation that Apple may be adapting its promotional images for the South Korean market to avoid potential disputes over the gesture.

However, Apple has not confirmed that this is the reason for the changes.