[Sportschosun Lee Ge-eun] YouTuber Park Wi apologized after drawing criticism for posting a video that appeared to target someone over a fall accident, but the controversy has not died down. Questions are mounting over how he obtained the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, along with criticism that he should have been more cautious before making it public.
On the 21st, Park Wi posted an apology on his YouTube channel, Weracle.
He said, "At the time of the incident, I failed to consider the position of the worker who did their best to help me at the scene and politely apologized. I viewed the mistake that occurred while trying to help me better in only a negative light," adding, "I apologize to everyone who worked hard at the scene."
He added, "I also deeply apologize to the viewers who watched the video. I will use this incident as a lesson and act more carefully and responsibly in everything I do. Once again, I sincerely apologize."
The controversy began with a video Park Wi uploaded on the 21st titled "Why I Am Releasing the CCTV Footage." In it, he described how he recently fell while getting off a KTX-Sancheon train using a ramp, after a wheelchair wheel caught on the foot of a social service worker.
Park Wi released the CCTV footage and explained, "Suddenly, I saw a foot in front of me. My wheelchair caught on that foot, and my body was thrown and fell to the floor." He added, "What made me angriest was not that the public service worker did it on purpose, but that he had placed his foot on the ramp in the first place. I was so upset I could not hold back my anger in that moment. Of course, he politely apologized to me, but I could not accept it at the time. If I had fallen there and been seriously injured, it would have been terrifying. The scariest part is that I have no sensation, so I would not know if I had a fracture or a crack." He later said hospital tests showed no fractures, though he still has back pain.
After the video was released, some people said they could understand the shock and fear Park Wi must have felt at the time of the accident. However, many also argued that publicly targeting a public service worker who had already apologized at the scene on his YouTube channel with 1 million subscribers went too far. Debate also intensified over the release of CCTV footage that could identify the worker.
Although Park Wi quickly deleted the video and posted an apology, criticism continues to grow, with people asking how he secured the CCTV footage and why he released it at all. Comments included, "How did he get the CCTV?", "He requested and received KORAIL CCTV footage that ordinary people cannot even access? He exposed me in a way that could identify who I am from the video alone, including my build, workplace, and status as a social service worker. If I were the person involved, I think I would really lose my mind," "Explain how you obtained the CCTV footage," and "What exactly was he thinking when he got the CCTV video and uploaded it?"
Meanwhile, Park Wi was previously diagnosed with paralysis in his lower body after a fall accident. He married Song Ji-eun, a former member of the group Secret, in 2024.
joyjoy90@sportschosun.com
This article has been translated by GripLabs Mingo AI.
