YouTuber Jab Sik Gongryong (real name Wang Hyun-soo) has deleted both his YouTube channel and social media accounts amid controversy over derogatory remarks about a region, despite repeated apologies and donations.
Earlier, Jab Sik Gongryong posted on social media on the 5th, sharing the results showing that Lee Jae-myung, the candidate from the Democratic Party of Korea, recorded 89.04% of the votes in a specific area of Jeollanam-do during the 21st presidential election, along with a post that included the phrase, 'If Jeollado gets 80-90%, we should really divide the country. We don't need to live together,' fueling the controversy.
As the post quickly spread through various communities, Jab Sik Gongryong faced controversy over 'regional disparagement' and 'political bias.' When an internet user pointed out, 'Why are you disparaging Jeollado?' he sarcastically responded, 'Are you a Jeollado person? You must have been scratched,' further escalating the situation.
As the controversy grew, on the 6th, Jab Sik Gongryong posted a lengthy apology on his YouTube channel's community page. He bowed his head, stating, 'Recently, there were expressions that disparaged a region and politically biased content in my posts, which caused discomfort to many.' He continued, 'Due to the influence of my surroundings since childhood, I developed biased thoughts,' and expressed, 'I deeply reflect on using expressions carelessly.'
On the same day, he donated 5 million won to the May 18 Foundation and shared the receipt. He added, 'I will keep in mind that making a donation does not erase my mistakes,' saying, 'From now on, I will be careful with every word I say.'
However, despite Jab Sik Gongryong's explanations and donation, criticism continued. Some internet users reacted by saying, 'Trying to wash away guilt with donations,' and 'It's insulting.'
In response, internet users continued to protest against the advertisers associated with Jab Sik Gongryong, leading to a series of brands' 'cutting ties' movements. The ice cream brand Larasweet stated on its official Instagram, 'We deeply apologize to everyone who was hurt by the remarks. We do not support any form of disparagement or discrimination, and we take this matter seriously.'
The restaurant brand Tokki Dining also publicly stated, 'Although we contracted for advertising, we are actually suffering damage,' requesting to delete the posts and refund the advertising fee, but they have not received a response.
Perhaps due to the ongoing strong public sentiment, Jab Sik Gongryong ultimately deleted both his YouTube channel and Instagram accounts. There are currently no posts or videos available.
[Photo] Social media
[OSEN]