YouTuber faces backlash for taking down videos about Kim Sae-ron after her death

By KTimes

A YouTuber who previously uploaded multiple videos about the late actor Kim Sae-ron's controversies is facing public backlash following her death. While the YouTuber has since switched the videos to private, many criticize the response as irresponsible.

As of Feb. 18, all videos related to the late actor have been switched to private on the YouTube channel @Behind_Master run, which has over 620,000 subscribers. It is run by Lee Jin-ho, a former journalist known for covering celebrity gossip who had frequently posted content about Kim following her drunk driving incident in May 2022.

In November that year, Lee criticized Kim, claiming she had hosted a drinking party with friends during her supposed self-reflection period. He also mocked her for getting a part-time job at a cafe, suggesting it was a publicity stunt to elicit public sympathy.

Last month, Lee reported on rumors of Kim's possible marriage after she posted a photo with a man on social media. When he was unable to reach her for confirmation, he said, "She even deleted my number. This shows a lack of sincerity about her self-reflection and a complete absence of responsibility as a public figure."

Kim was found dead at her home on Sunday, with police currently investigating the cause of death. Online commenters are criticizing Lee and certain media outlets, suggesting their coverage contributed to Kim's emotional distress.

One online user said, "You made someone suffer to the point of death, and now you think deleting the videos is enough?" Another commented, "Channels like this should be shut down."

Kwon Young-chan, head of the Korea Celebrity Suicide Prevention Association, echoed these sentiments after visiting Kim’s funeral on Feb. 17. "The deceased experienced significant psychological distress due to these so-called 'expose videos' on YouTube," Kwon said.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.