Singer and musical actor Lee Ji-hoon and his wife Ayane's controversy over criticizing a daycare was temporarily settled with successive lengthy apologies. However, criticism continues, drawing attention.
On the 10th, Ayane posted a long message on her personal SNS. The published post contained an explanation about the recent controversy accusing Lee Ji-hoon and Ayane of targeting a daycare.
Earlier, Ayane left a post saying she was "a little shocked because she is a baby who has not yet seasoned" regarding finding candy wrappers in her daughter Ruhee's daycare bag. At the time she said, "Ruhee is still a baby who has not yet seasoned, so we only gave her puffed rice snacks and did not give vitamin candies. Even when she received candy at hospitals or cultural centers, we persuaded her by saying 'this is something you cannot eat yet,' but now it seemed she learned she could eat them, which upset me."
However, rather than sympathizing and comforting Ayane's complaint, many internet users poured out criticism. The reason was that posting what seemed like targeting the daycare over giving a single toddler candy was inappropriate. There was also criticism that, after choosing to send their daughter to the daycare, the couple imposing their personal educational views on the facility came across as "power trip" and "unreasonable behavior."
In the end, Lee Ji-hoon apologized on his personal SNS on the 9th. He posted everyday photos of Ruhee and wrote, "After Children's Day and then Parents' Day. These are the first times Ruhee has experienced since being born and they feel new. They will soon become memories, but each day is always happy and joyful because of you. I love you Ruhee. My childhood face is appearing more and more. Our Ruhee is unseasoned (does not dye either). Sorry for being fussy." Ayane also personally left an apology here.
In the long post, Ayane said, "I lived in Japan for 20 years and was familiar with children's snack culture there, but this was the first time I experienced Korean daycare culture and I felt the difference. However, because I did not explain the details and simply used the word 'shocked,' misunderstandings seem to have grown."
She also explained, "In Japan there is a 분위기 recommending not to give candy to children under 3, and in fact many daycares prohibit candy. So rather than meaning 'my child ate candy at daycare?,' I was surprised by the fact that there is a culture of providing candy at daycare."
In addition, Ayane said, "I have seen news before that candy, jelly and rice cakes were prohibited in daycares, and the packaging saying 'candy' also confused me. But I also know well that living abroad for a long time does not give me the right to force my values on others. I am not saying Korean daycares that provide candy are wrong. Different countries have different types of candy and ways of providing them, and I think it is right to live according to those cultures. I think when in Rome you should follow Roman laws."
She added, "Rather than being shocked by the situation itself, I used the word 'shocked' because I was surprised by a cultural difference I had not experienced before. I believe my child is attending daycare and growing up in a good environment in Korea, and I have never been dissatisfied with that or thought Japan was better. I did not mean to say that a single piece of candy would cause a serious problem for the child or to express a grave meaning. It seems there was a difference between the nuance I intended and the nuance received in Korea. I also know that even if I try to control it, the child will eventually eat everything. I only wanted to do my best within what I can do, and I never forced anyone or made rude requests to the daycare and do not intend to in the future. But I am truly sorry to the daycare teachers that my SNS post could be perceived in that way."
Despite Ayane's apology, criticism from internet users continues. In particular, a video posted on Feb. 13 on the couple's YouTube channel 'Lee Ji-hoon Ayane's Jia Life' titled '1-year-old Ruhee's spicy challenge' has been rediscovered and intensified the criticism. In the video, while the couple Ayane and Lee Ji-hoon were eating a stir-fried jjamppong meal kit at home, they playfully fed their daughter the spicy, strongly seasoned food they were eating. In the actual video, when their daughter showed interest in a food she was seeing for the first time, they warned as if saying it was spicy and she could not eat it with phrases like "ah, it's spicy," "if you eat it something bad will happen," and "you can't eat that." But soon they said, "She seems to handle spicy food well," "should we give her kimchi?", "brave, she has no fear," and let her taste the spicy food. This has further drawn flak for the parenting attitude that contrasts with the earlier emphasis on an "unseasoned" diet and being upset over a single candy wrapper given by the daycare.
[photo] Source: SNS and YouTube.
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