Kwak Tube on the Hot Seat: Apologizes for Adding to Bullying Discussions with Lee Na Eun

Korean Travel YouTuber Kwak Tube (real name Kwak Joon Bin) has come under fire for featuring Lee Na Eun, who has been accused of bullying on his channel. He expressed regret, stating, “I caused additional pain to the victims due to my arrogant and misguided judgment.” In a recent apology posted on his YouTube community page, he said, “I sincerely apologize for making many of you uncomfortable with the upload and subsequent privatization of the Italy video on the 16th.”

Kwan explained, “When I privatized the video, I felt overwhelmed and scared, which led me to post an apology quickly. Afterward, I took the time to collect my thoughts and read the comments from viewers. I realized my ignorance and carelessness and deeply reflected on my actions.”

He further elaborated, “I initially blocked Lee Na Eun, thinking she was a perpetrator of school bullying. However, after reading the verdict article, I felt remorse for my misunderstanding. During a chance meeting, I developed a friendship with her, and without any ulterior motives, I simply wanted to express my regret by suggesting the trip to Italy.” This clarifies why he included her in his content.

Kwak added, “As a victim of school bullying, I still carry scars that feel like stains. The depth and nature of each person’s wounds are different, and I thought I could understand this issue better than anyone because I have my own scars. This was my arrogance. I failed to consider how my misguided judgment could cause further pain to victims.”

He also stated, “I bow my head in apology to the victims who have been hurt again because of this incident. There is no excuse for my mistakes.” He promised, “Moving forward, I will approach my actions with greater responsibility and caution to avoid hurting others. I will not forget that the current Kwak exists because of your support and encouragement, and I will take time to reflect on myself.”

The controversy began on the 16th when Kwak featured Lee Na Eun, a former member of the K-pop group April, on his YouTube channel. This reignited discussions about bullying against the group in 2022.

In the video, Kwak apologized to Lee Na Eun, saying, “I became sensitive whenever discussions of school bullying came up, so I blocked you right away. But after reading the article, I realized that was not the case. Even though I have shared many stories as a victim, I regret having caused harm to someone who has been misunderstood.” This prompted accusations of past washing.

In the wake of this incident, Kwak faced repercussions, including the privatization of a video related to a school bullying prevention campaign in which he participated as a public interest model for the Ministry of Education.