The Controversy Begins: Inappropriate Request During Live Broadcast
Lee Ju-hyung (25), a player for the Kiwoom Heroes professional baseball team, has faced criticism from netizens for a comment he left during actress Park Eun-bin's (34) Instagram live broadcast. On the 4th, when Park Eun-bin was streaming on her account, Lee Ju-hyung posted a comment from his personal SNS account saying 'Please speak like Woo Young-woo.' This request subsequently became publicly controversial and drew criticism from numerous internet users.
The wave of criticism was quite severe. Some netizens questioned, 'Park Eun-bin is extremely reluctant to imitate Woo Young-woo's speech to avoid harm to autistic individuals, so why make such a request?' Additionally, strong criticism followed, with comments like 'How can you make such a request in a public place?' and 'Are you in your right mind?'
Autism Spectrum Character and the Danger of Caricaturization
Woo Young-woo, the protagonist of the drama 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' (2022), is considered one of Park Eun-bin's most iconic characters. However, it is crucial to note that this character has autism spectrum disorder. This raises concerns that mimicking Woo Young-woo's speech patterns and behavioral mannerisms could lead to caricaturization of autistic individuals.
In fact, during the peak of the 'Woo Young-woo syndrome,' numerous YouTubers emerged who imitated the speech pattern, and the issue of 'mocking autistic people' was widely raised. This goes beyond simple imitation of popular content and has been problematic in that it can deepen negative perceptions of the disabled community. Within this social discourse, Lee Ju-hyung's comment is being viewed as increasingly inappropriate.
Actress Park Eun-bin's Ethical Caution and Expert Opinion
Park Eun-bin clarified her position in an interview commemorating the conclusion of 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo.' She stated, 'I absolutely forbade imitating the accent and behavior of the Woo Young-woo character based on actual autistic individuals. I felt it was my ethical responsibility as an actor.' This shows how seriously Park Eun-bin considered the impact on the autistic community in developing her character.
Kim Byung-gun, a professor at Nazareth University who served as an advisor to the drama, made an important point about this issue. He explained, '(People who imitate) claim it's a parody. However, parody contains the concept of satire, and satire should be directed at those in power, not at the weak.' This is an expert opinion emphasizing that imitation of disabled groups cannot simply be a subject of laughter.
Lee Ju-hyung's Position and the Team's Official Statement
As the controversy spread, the Kiwoom Heroes issued an official statement. The team stated, 'Lee Ju-hyung did not leave the comment with intentional malice' and 'He himself recognizes that it was a mistake.' This shows that Lee Ju-hyung acknowledged that his action was inappropriate and had no malicious intent. However, this explanation has not entirely quelled criticism from netizens.
Lee Ju-hyung is a player who was drafted by the LG Twins in the 2nd round, 13th overall pick in the 2020 rookie draft. He subsequently transferred to his current team, the Kiwoom Heroes, through a trade during the 2023 season. This controversy has sparked discussions about responsibility as a public figure and social sensitivity.
This content is general information compiled based on publicly available materials. Please check official announcements from relevant institutions for accurate details.
