Controversy erupts as creator KwakTube invites actress Lee Na-eun, previously embroiled in bullying allegations, onto his YouTube channel.
The South Korean Ministry of Education has swiftly responded by making KwakTube's participation in an anti-bullying campaign video private following public backlash. KwakTube, who has openly discussed his own experiences with school violence, faced criticism for seemingly defending Lee Na-eun, who was accused of bullying a former member of her group, APRIL. On his channel, he shared moments from a trip to Rome with Lee Na-eun, where he expressed discomfort regarding the misunderstanding surrounding her allegations.
After the video aired, many netizens expressed confusion at KwakTube's defense of someone with such troubling allegations. In light of the criticism, he removed the video and issued an apology, acknowledging he hadn't fully considered the implications of his statements. The backlash is particularly significant given Lee Na-eun’s history of allegations surrounding bullying and the eventual disbandment of APRIL in 2022.
Lee Na-eun debuted with APRIL in 2015 but has faced accusations of leading bullying against former member Lee Hyun-ju. The situation escalated in early 2021 when Lee Hyun-ju's sibling made allegations public, leading to legal actions against them by the group and their agency, although the police found no evidence of wrongdoing. Despite the controversies, Lee Na-eun has recently resumed her career after signing with a new agency and participating in a drama series.