Comedian Lee Su-ji Issues Handwritten Apology for 'By-election' Satire Controversy

In South Korea, comedian Lee Su-ji's YouTube content, 'Civil Servant Kim Ji-young's Iron Rice Bowl Protection,' recently drew public attention due to a controversial 'by-election' scene. While the video aimed to satirize the difficulties faced by civil servants, it was criticized for allegedly trivializing specific political demands as malicious complaints. Lee Su-ji issued a handwritten apology 18 days after the controversy erupted, expressing regret for causing discomfort and disappointment.

The controversial video was a mockumentary where Lee Su-ji played a new civil servant, Kim Ji-young. It featured a scene where a petitioner shouts 'by-election' amidst a crowd of malicious complainants. Coinciding with actual calls for by-elections in society, some viewers criticized this scene for portraying legitimate political issues as trivial or malicious. The production team initially clarified there was no political intent and re-edited the scene, but eventually deleted the entire video due to ongoing criticism.

Bloggers analyzed that while Lee Su-ji typically garnered empathy and laughter through realistic character portrayals, the use of a sensitive term like 'by-election' in connection with real political events amplified the controversy. The apology did not directly mention the word 'by-election,' leading to mixed reactions regarding its sincerity. It was also noted that the controversy has impacted Lee Su-ji's YouTube channel, with a noticeable decrease in viewership after her return to activity.