YouTuber Jabsikgongryong Deletes Accounts Amid Controversy

YouTuber Jabsikgongryong (real name Wang Hyun-soo) has deleted his YouTube channel and social media accounts following a backlash over derogatory comments about a specific region in South Korea. On June 5, he posted on social media about the results of the 21st presidential election, where Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party received 89.04% of the votes in Jeollanam-do, captioning it with a mocking phrase. He further inflamed the situation by stating, 'If Jeolla produces 80-90%, we really need to divide the country. There’s no need to live together.'

The post quickly spread across various online communities, leading to accusations of regional discrimination and political bias. When a netizen questioned why he was disparaging Jeolla, he responded sarcastically, which only intensified the controversy.

In response to the growing criticism, Jabsikgongryong issued a lengthy apology on June 6, acknowledging that his previous posts contained derogatory expressions and politically biased content that caused discomfort to many. He reflected on how his upbringing influenced his skewed views and expressed deep regret for his careless language.

On the same day, he announced a donation of 5 million won to the May 18 Memorial Foundation, sharing the receipt as proof. He emphasized that making a donation does not absolve him of his mistakes and vowed to be more cautious with his words in the future.

Despite his apologies and charitable actions, criticism persisted, with some netizens accusing him of trying to evade responsibility through donations. This led to protests against the brands he was associated with, prompting several companies to sever ties with him. Ice cream brand Lalasweet publicly apologized to those hurt by his comments, stating they do not support any form of discrimination or derogation and are taking the matter seriously.

Restaurant brand Tokki Dining also revealed that they requested the removal of their advertisements and a refund due to the backlash but received no response.

Ultimately, the mounting public pressure led Jabsikgongryong to delete all his social media accounts, leaving his posts and videos inaccessible.