"I Was Trying to Give Jennie a Shout-out"... 360,000-Subscriber YouTuber Apologizes After Showing Up at Agency Unannounced

[Financial News] A well-known YouTuber who filmed a video after showing up unannounced at the agency of Jennie, a member of Blackpink, while saying he wanted to meet her, has faced strong criticism online and eventually issued an official apology.
According to the industry on the 15th, YouTuber Potato Turtle, whose real name is Song Ji-yoon and who has about 360,000 subscribers, bowed his head in apology on his social media account on the 14th, saying, "I sincerely apologize to everyone who felt uncomfortable because of my recent video."
In his apology, he said, "I did not realize that showing up at the company unannounced and handing over a letter and flowers could be seen as the behavior of a sasaeng fan." He added, "My approach was wrong. I think I was too ignorant about idol fan culture, and I will act more carefully in the future."

The controversy began when Potato Turtle uploaded a video as part of his ongoing "100 Bucket Lists" content, in which he challenged himself to "have a cup of coffee with Jennie."
In the video, he went to Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, where Jennie's agency is located, and said, "We have one thing in common: we are both in Yongsan. Opportunities come to those who knock on the door." He then headed to the agency building carrying a letter, flowers, and heart-shaped balloons. Later, he rang the doorbell at the entrance, handed the prepared items to an employee, and showed in detail how he held up a sign at a concert venue that read, "Would you like to have a cup of coffee?"
Once the video was released, criticism poured in across online communities and social media. Users strongly pointed out that "visiting a private space without prior arrangement is no different from stalking" and that he had turned the behavior of so-called sasaeng fans, which threatens an artist's safety and privacy for the sake of views, into content.

As the controversy grew out of control, the YouTuber's side immediately made the video private.
As more YouTubers justify sensational or excessive challenges under the name of "content," public concern is also growing. In his explanation, the YouTuber said, "There are often content pieces overseas where people give a 'shout-out' to celebrities, so I took that as a reference." However, regardless of whether it is at home or abroad, illegal entry into an artist's private space or agency, as well as unauthorized visits, are strictly taboo.
Pop culture critics analyzed the incident as "the result of the spread of one-person media and the rise of 'content absolutism,' where invasion of privacy or portrait rights is treated lightly for the sake of entertainment and views alone."

moon@fnnews.com Moon Young-jin Reporter