[Sportschosun Reporter Cho Yoon-sun] A practicing lawyer has shared his view on the controversy surrounding Park Wi's release of CCTV footage from a KTX-Sancheon fall accident.
On the 24th, the lawyer said on social networking service, "The reason we feel uncomfortable about Park Wi's YouTube video. It is a sensitive issue, but I think there is a point worth considering, so I would like to share my opinion."
The lawyer said that, as for the accident itself, Park Wi would have had every right to be angry. Since he was moving in a wheelchair without the use of his lower body, falling onto the platform could have led to serious injury. He said the fear and anger Park Wi felt were understandable.
However, the lawyer pointed to Park Wi's decision to release CCTV footage that could identify the person involved through his YouTube channel. He said, "From the CCTV Park Wi obtained, we can see that the Public Service Personnel pressing down on the ramp with his foot was trying to help Park Wi, not intentionally trying to hurt him. The footage even shows him trying to help Park Wi after the fall. But by posting CCTV that could identify the person on YouTube, it seemed less like a public-interest act and more like asking many people to join in criticizing him. In effect, it felt like private sanctions."
He also addressed the social awareness that people should be considerate of vulnerable members of society. The lawyer said, "We have been taught through education that we should be considerate of socially vulnerable people. Of course, I agree that there are shortcomings in reality and many areas that need improvement, especially issues related to the mobility rights of persons with disabilities."
He added, "In any case, Park Wi is a million-subscriber YouTuber, and I dare say he has appealed to the public and his subscribers for understanding and support for persons with disabilities as a socially vulnerable group. In that sense, he has likely received consideration, knowingly or not."
The lawyer also argued that the Public Service Personnel who caused the accident could, in a broad sense, be included among socially vulnerable people. He said that if a man in his early 20s with limited life experience made an unintentional mistake while fulfilling his duty of national defense, then some consideration should also be given to his immaturity.
He criticized this as "applying a very strict and harsh double standard to the Public Service Personnel's innocent mistake and immaturity. Being lenient with oneself and endlessly strict with others—that is hypocrisy," adding that it could be seen as Naeronambul.
He also expressed concern that if the CCTV footage is released on an influential YouTube channel, the person involved may be left online with the video and their identity exposed, without being given a chance to explain their side.
The lawyer said this case could also deepen society's fear of helping others. He warned that the perception of "If I help, I may end up the only one who gets hurt" could spread.
He said, "To put it bluntly, I think this incident could even reverse the effect of Park Wi's previous efforts to improve awareness of persons with disabilities."
He continued, "Many people felt uncomfortable because they saw Park Wi trying to secure unconditional moral superiority over others by using his identity as a socially vulnerable person. He apologized and deleted the video, but an influencer is someone with very strong influence. Content is important, but I think one must be truly careful."
Earlier, on the 14th, Park Wi fell forward while getting off a KTX-Sancheon train after the wheel of his wheelchair got caught on the foot of a Public Service Personnel member who had been holding down the ramp.
Park Wi later released CCTV footage of the incident on YouTube and said, in effect, that he was furious that the foot had been placed on the ramp in the first place.
However, criticism followed over his release of CCTV footage showing the Public Service Personnel helping him and apologizing at the time of the accident. As the controversy grew, Park Wi deleted the video and apologized, saying, "I did not consider the worker's position."
This article has been translated by GripLabs Mingo AI.
