Park Wi video stirs claims of unequal treatment of Song Ji-eun; Yoon So-hee criticised
In short
Internet users have accused the family of YouTuber Park Wi (박위) of treating his wife Song Ji-eun (송지은) unequally, citing a Chuseok video he posted in September 2024. They point to Song using different tableware from everyone else and to Park naming actress Yoon So-hee (윤소희), known as his father's adopted daughter, before Song in a prayer. Criticism has since spread to Yoon through comments on her social media.
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YouTuber Park Wi (박위) and his family face online claims that they treated his wife, Song Ji-eun (송지은), a former member of the group Secret (시크릿), unequally, Chosun Ilbo, Newsis and Maeil Business reported. The claims centre on a video titled "First Chuseok at the in-laws' home", which Park posted in September 2024 on his YouTube channel Wirakeul (위라클) and which recently resurfaced online. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
The video shows Song spending Chuseok with Park's family, including his father, producer Park Chan-hong (박찬홍), and actress Yoon So-hee (윤소희), known as Park Chan-hong's adopted daughter. Internet users pointed out that Park's parents, Park and Yoon used what appeared to be matching tableware while Song used different dishes, and that Park named Yoon before Song in a prayer before the meal. According to Chosun Ilbo, the prayer began: "On Chuseok, our beloved So-hee, and Ji-eun, me, and mother and father." Chosun Ilbo and Maeil Business reported that Park's parents praised Yoon, a KAIST graduate, in front of Song. During a video call, Chosun Ilbo said Park's younger sibling greeted only Yoon; Newsis reported the greeting "So-hee, have a good Chuseok" without naming the speaker. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Maeil Business reported that Yoon became Park Chan-hong's adopted daughter after appearing in the tvN drama Gieok (기억), which he directed. In the video, Park told his father that with So-hee there, it felt like coming to his daughter's house, and Song added, "As if she had always been there." [ 5 ]
Some users said Song appeared to be left out, while others said the family's relationships or any discrimination could not be judged from parts of the video. [ 1 , 2 , 5 ]
Criticism has since spread to Yoon. Newsis and Maeil Business reported comments on her social media such as "Are you the sister-in-law?" and remarks calling the situation bizarre, as well as questions about how she became an adopted daughter. Chosun Ilbo said the dispute had turned into malicious comments aimed at those involved, raising concerns. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
The claims arose as Park's past videos were re-examined after an earlier controversy. On August 21, Park posted CCTV footage showing him falling while getting off a KTX train when his wheelchair wheel caught on a social service worker's foot, Newsis reported. He was criticised for releasing the video with the worker's apology edited out. Park apologised, saying his way of conveying it was immature, and suspended his YouTube activity; his scheduled lectures were cancelled and he resigned as a Seoul city honorary ambassador. Park and Song married in October 2024. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Why it matters
The dispute adds to scrutiny of Park, who had already apologised, suspended his YouTube activity and resigned as a Seoul city honorary ambassador after a controversy over a KTX accident video. Outlets also report that the criticism has turned into malicious comments aimed at Yoon, which Chosun Ilbo said is raising concerns.
Key facts
- The claims centre on a video titled "First Chuseok at the in-laws' home", posted in 2024 on Park Wi's YouTube channel Wirakeul (위라클). [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- In the video, Park's parents, Park and Yoon So-hee used what appeared to be matching tableware while Song Ji-eun used different dishes. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- Park named Yoon before his wife Song in a prayer before the meal. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- Yoon is known as the adopted daughter of Park's father, producer Park Chan-hong. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- Comments on Yoon's social media asked whether she was a sister-in-law and called the relationship bizarre. [ 4 , 5 ]
- The video resurfaced after Park released CCTV footage of a fall while getting off a KTX train in August, then apologised and suspended his YouTube activity. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- Park and Song married in October 2024. [ 2 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- In the video, Song used different tableware from Park, his parents and Yoon So-hee. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- Park mentioned Yoon before Song in a prayer before the meal. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- Park's parents praised Yoon, a KAIST graduate, in front of Song. [ 1 , 5 ]
- Other users said family relationships could not be judged from parts of the video. [ 1 , 2 , 5 ]
- Criticism has spread to Yoon So-hee, including comments on her social media. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- On August 21, Park posted CCTV footage of a fall while getting off a KTX train, which drew criticism; he apologised and suspended his YouTube activity. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the scenes in the video reflect any actual unequal treatment by the family. Outlets report that some users said this cannot be judged from parts of the video, and no response from Park, Song, Yoon or the family is reported.
- Who greeted only Yoon during the video call. Chosun Ilbo said it was Park's younger sibling; Newsis reported the greeting without naming the speaker.
- How Yoon became Park Chan-hong's adopted daughter. Only Maeil Business reports that it followed her role in a tvN drama he directed.
- Some internet users have accused Park Wi's family of treating Song Ji-eun unequally, based on a Chuseok video posted in September 2024. Reported by a single source so far
- After the KTX controversy, Park's scheduled lectures were cancelled and he resigned as a Seoul city honorary ambassador. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- October 8: Chosun Ilbo (OSEN) reports the claims that Park Wi's family treated Song Ji-eun unequally. [ 1 ]
- October 8: Newsis reports the claims and the online debate over the 2024 Chuseok video. [ 2 ]
- October 9: Chosun Ilbo (OSEN) reports that malicious comments are being aimed at Yoon So-hee. [ 3 ]
- October 9: Newsis reports critical comments on Yoon's social media. [ 4 ]
- October 9: Maeil Business reports the criticism spreading to Yoon. [ 5 ]