'Weeracle' couple Park Wi·Song Ji-eun spoke directly about criticism related to the paid membership.
On the 16th, a video titled 'Please become a family of Weeracle' was released on the YouTube channel 'Weeracle.'
In the video Park Wi said, "It has already been seven years since I started the channel. There have been many changes during that time, and the biggest was meeting Ji-eun and getting married," adding, "I opened the membership because I wanted to communicate more closely with subscribers. We made the decision after sufficient internal discussion, so it will be a new channel for interaction."
Song Ji-eun also said, "I decided to take on this challenge because I wanted to share somewhat deeper stories," and introduced membership content such as videos that honestly portray daily life and the couple's life that they could not show in their usual vlogs, and real-time communication through live broadcasts. Song Ji-eun said, "I usually like talking, so I'm looking forward to the live content."
Park Wi and Song Ji-eun said the membership fee is 2,990 won per month and explained, "We wanted to set it at 2,900 won, but due to YouTube's system the set cost is 2,990 won, so 90 won was added." Song Ji-eun added, "Because this is a paid service, we will present more polished content."
Reactions to the paid membership for the Weeracle channel are mixed. Some subscribers said they would join the membership expecting deeper communication and content, but other subscribers, saying they were disappointed because Weeracle had promoted positive influence, expressed regret. They reacted with comments such as "A paid membership for communication?", "I'm unsubscribing," "It seems the channel's essence, which worked to raise disability awareness, is gone," and "Everyone wants revenue, but it's still disappointing."
Amid support, criticism and debate, Song Ji-eun and Park Wi spoke directly. They replied to a comment saying, 'It feels like it's not the essence of Weeracle, so it's disappointing. People who are saddened are not doing so because they don't have 2,990 won. The Weeracle channel felt like a disability awareness program that resonated with non-disabled people more than any other channel, but I felt it has been losing its color since the marriage,' by saying, 'We appreciate the heartfelt words spoken with concern. We will take them to heart and try to reflect them in channel operation.'
Park Wi, who runs the 'Weeracle' channel, was diagnosed with total paralysis after a fall in 2014 but recovered upper body movement through rehabilitation. Last year he married Song Ji-eun, formerly of Secret.
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