Comedian Kim Su-young denies hiding crab origin after viewers report chat blocks
In short
Comedian Kim Su-young faces criticism after some viewers of his YouTube live sales broadcasts for marinated crab said their chats were blocked when they asked where ingredients came from. The seller's side admitted the chat manager reacted excessively but said there was no intent to deceive, and Kim posted an explanation on his SNS on 20 October.
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Comedian Kim Su-young (김수영) is facing a dispute over live YouTube broadcasts selling marinated crab under the 'Yeongi-ne Gejang' (영이네게장) name, which he helps run. Online communities and SNS posts said some viewers who asked about the origin of ingredients such as seasoning and red pepper powder had their chats blocked. Maeil Business said such posts appeared on 19 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Maeil Business reported that Kim stressed in the broadcast that the crabs were 100% domestic from Yeonpyeong Island. OSEN, carried by Chosun Ilbo, quoted him as saying in the broadcast that the red pepper powder was Chinese but that it was tested and found free of pesticides, and that he would block people who kept coming in to talk about Chinese origin. He also asked viewers not to attack him. [ 1 , 2 ]
According to the product page, the soy-marinated crab is 34% domestic crab and 66% sauces, which are foreign-made; the origin of the amino acid liquid is listed as India, the United States and China among others. The seasoned crab is half crab and half sauces, with domestic crab, foreign sauces and Chinese chili. Maeil Business and Korea Economic Daily both cited these listings. [ 1 , 3 ]
Korea Economic Daily said that on 18 October a consumer posted on the product page's inquiry board, asking why the chat was blocked after they asked whether the origin was domestic or Chinese, and whether asking was itself malicious commenting. Maeil Business reported a similar claim from someone who asked about red pepper powder and seasoning origin. [ 1 , 3 ]
Heo Su-yang, Kim's wife and head of Suyoung Agriculture and Fisheries (수영농수산), said the chat manager responded excessively. She said repeated comments of a particular kind made it hard to run the broadcast, and that there was no intent to deceive consumers or hide origin. Kim said he told viewers the crabs were domestic and the red pepper powder Chinese, and that origin is on the detail page. In a call with OSEN he said managers blocked people who attacked maliciously and flooded the chat. A later OSEN report said he explained on his SNS on 20 October that he had not hidden or deceived about origin. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Maeil Business said the focus of the controversy appeared to be less the use of Chinese ingredients than how consumer questions were handled, and cited the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service's statement that origin labelling aims to protect consumers' right to know. It quoted mixed online reactions, including some who understood the need to manage repeated abusive comments. Kim debuted as a KBS comedian in 2011 and married in 2022. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
The outlets say the dispute centres less on Chinese-origin ingredients than on how the seller handled consumers' origin questions. The documents give no sign of any official action.
Key facts
- Some viewers of live sales broadcasts for 'Yeongi-ne Gejang' (영이네게장), which Kim Su-young helps run, claimed their chats were blocked after they asked about the origin of ingredients such as seasoning and red pepper powder. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The product page lists the soy-marinated crab as 34% domestic crab and 66% sauces, with the sauces foreign-made; the amino acid liquid is listed as coming from India, the United States and China among others. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The seasoned crab is listed as 50% crab and 50% sauces, with the chili used in the seasoning listed as Chinese. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Heo Su-yang, Kim's wife and head of Suyoung Agriculture and Fisheries (수영농수산), said the person managing the chat 'responded excessively'. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Kim and the seller's side said they had no intention of hiding or deceiving about origin. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Kim said he had told viewers in the broadcast that the red pepper powder was Chinese and that origins are on the product detail page. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Viewers claimed they were blocked from chat after asking about the origin of ingredients in the crab products sold in Kim Su-young's live broadcasts. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The seller's side acknowledged that the chat manager's response was excessive while denying any intent to deceive consumers or hide origin. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The product page shows the soy-marinated crab as 34% domestic crab and 66% foreign sauces, and the seasoned crab as 50% crab and 50% sauces with Chinese chili. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the blocked viewers were asking genuine questions or posting repeated hostile comments. Viewers said they were blocked for asking about origin, while Kim said the chat was flooded with repeated, malicious comments about Chinese-origin ingredients; the documents give no independent account.
- How many viewers were blocked. The documents refer only to 'some' viewers and to online posts and a complaint on the product page's inquiry board.
- The full content of Kim's SNS statement. One outlet carries only a feed summary, which says Kim stated he had not hidden or deceived about origin.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Maeil Business published its report on the origin controversy and the seller's response. [ 1 ]
- OSEN, via Chosun Ilbo, reported that Kim planned to post his position on his SNS on 20 October. [ 2 ]
- Korea Economic Daily reported on the controversy and the seller's acknowledgement of the excessive response. [ 3 ]
- OSEN, via Chosun Ilbo, reported that Kim explained directly on his SNS that he had not hidden or deceived about origin. [ 4 ]