Mukbang YouTuber Ipjjalbeun Haetnim (real name Kim Mi-kyung) directly addressed suspicions of involvement with 'Jusaimo'.
In the early hours of the 19th, Ipjjalbeun Haetnim posted a long statement on her YouTube channel community and explained her position on the 'Jusaimo' controversy.
She explained, "I am reflecting on and organizing the controversies and allegations currently raised, and if there are mistakes, I will admit them and will not make excuses or evade responsibility," and added, "I first met this Mr. Lee under controversy through an introduction from an acquaintance at a hospital in Gangnam District, so without question I believed he was a doctor and received treatment. I knew this Mr. Lee as an actual doctor. On days when I was busy, Mr. Lee came to my house. However, I have never gone to Mr. Lee's house."
She continued, "It is my great fault that I did not pay more careful attention to several circumstances and act more prudently, and I deeply reflect on that. I sincerely apologize for causing discomfort and harm unintentionally to fans and various parties, and I hope that the damage to everyone caused by this will be minimized," and said, "I have decided to withdraw from all programs currently in progress and suspend all planned activities." She announced she would halt all activities on YouTube, including tvN Amazing Saturday.
She bowed and said, "I sincerely apologize to everyone who loved me despite my shortcomings, and I will approach the current matter with a sincere attitude to the best of my ability. Once again, I apologize to the many people who supported me."
Ipjjalbeun Haetnim was swept up in suspicions of involvement with 'Jusaimo' on the 18th following a Dispatch report. Earlier, Park Na-rae had been embroiled in controversy after evidence emerged that she received IV injections or psychotropic drugs from 'Jusaimo' A, who did not hold a medical license. Amid this, Dispatch reported that Ipjjalbeun Haetnim also appeared to have received diet pills or IV injections from A.
The report contained conversations between A, Park Na-rae, and Park Na-rae's former manager. Ipjjalbeun Haetnim's name was mentioned several times in those conversations. In addition, there was evidence suggesting that Ipjjalbeun Haetnim acted as a courier at A's request by delivering psychotropic drugs to Park Na-rae's manager, which drew attention.
Relatedly, Ipjjalbeun Haetnim reportedly told Dispatch, "I once received a swelling medicine from the hospital where A worked," but denied, "Diet pills and IVs are unrelated." Meanwhile, the diet pills that appear to have been received from A by Ipjjalbeun Haetnim are suspected to be the appetite suppressant phentermine, classified as a "psychotropic drug" under the Act on Control of Narcotics, which intensified the controversy. Phentermine, when sold, possessed, or administered without a lawful prescription, can be punished by up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won.
When these allegations arose, fans who subscribed to Ipjjalbeun Haetnim went to her YouTube channel and Instagram and demanded explanations in the comments. But Ipjjalbeun Haetnim did not state a particular position, and she had disabled comments on the top post of her Instagram. Disappointed subscribers began to leave one by one, and the number of YouTube and Instagram followers fell by about 10,000 in less than a day.
According to the schedule Ipjjalbeun Haetnim had announced, a video was to be uploaded to her official YouTube channel at 10 p.m. on the 18th. However, because of the fallout from the controversy, she did not upload the video without separate explanation. In particular, a live broadcast was scheduled for 10 p.m. tonight (the 19th). With the live stream set for the next day and her embroiled in 'Jusaimo' involvement allegations, attention turned to whether she would go ahead with the live broadcast or address the allegations during the live show. Ipjjalbeun Haetnim announced the cancellation of the schedule, saying, "I have decided to suspend all planned activities."
Meanwhile, Ipjjalbeun Haetnim began activities in 2015 as a mukbang creator on AfreecaTV and is currently active on YouTube. She was particularly involved from the early days of tvN Amazing Saturday — DoReMi Market and helped lead the game's core. In response, Amazing Saturday said to OSEN, "We have learned of news related to Ipjjalbeun Haetnim and are currently verifying the facts," expressing a cautious stance.
[Photo] OSEN DB, Ipjjalbeun Haetnim
[OSEN]