Backlash After Releasing CCTV Footage... Park Wi, Who Lost 1 Million Subscribers, Sees Lecture Events Canceled One After Another

[Financial News] Park Wi, a YouTuber and broadcaster who came under fire after releasing CCTV footage of a fall accident on the KTX-Sancheon, is facing a backlash as his official schedules are being canceled one after another.
According to Star News and others on the 24th, Park Wi's "2026 Seoul Youth Policy Network Insight Lecture," scheduled for the 27th at Seoul Metropolitan Government, has been canceled. He had planned to hold a lecture titled "Weracle, A Miracle for All of Us," but officials told Star News, "Since this is a lecture for young people, we decided to cancel it in light of Park Wi's current situation."
A talk concert scheduled for the 28th has also been canceled.
On the 24th, the Gangnam Foundation for Arts & Culture announced on its official website, "We would like to inform you that the barrier-free performance 'Weracle Park Wi's Talk Concert,' scheduled for the 28th, has been canceled due to unavoidable circumstances." It added, "We offer our deepest understanding and apologies to the audience who had been waiting for the performance."
Earlier, on the 21st, Park Wi uploaded a video titled "Why I Released the CCTV Footage" to his YouTube channel Weracle. He said he had taken the KTX-Sancheon for a lecture on the 14th and, while getting off and descending a ramp with a wheelchair lift, his wheel caught on the foot of a Social Service Agent, causing him to be thrown out of the wheelchair and fall to the floor. He then released the CCTV footage from the time of the accident.
Park Wi said, "The Social Service Agent did not do it on purpose, but I was angry that his foot was on the ramp in the first place." He added, "Of course, he politely apologized to me, but in that moment, I could not accept it."
Public reaction, however, was cold. The Social Service Agent had already apologized to Park Wi at the scene, and since there was no evidence of intent in the accident, criticism grew that it was excessive to publicize the matter by releasing CCTV footage that could identify the individual.
As the controversy grew, Park Wi deleted the video and apologized.
He said, "I am sorry to have disappointed so many people with the video I uploaded," and bowed his head, adding, "I failed to consider the position of the worker who did their best to help me at the scene and who apologized politely when the incident occurred."
He continued, "I viewed a mistake made in the process of trying to help me better only in a negative light. My way of conveying the situation was immature, and I was short-sighted. I apologize to everyone who worked hard at the scene."
Even after the apology, the scheduled lectures and talk concert were canceled one after another. Park Wi's YouTube channel, which once surpassed 1 million subscribers, had fallen to 983,000 as of 8 a.m. on the 25th. The controversy also spread to his wife, singer Song Ji-eun. As critical comments about Park Wi's actions poured into Song Ji-eun's social networking service account, she eventually restricted the comments function.
[email protected] Kim Su-yeon Reporter