Broadcaster Kangnam deleted a video featuring a Japanese actor who faced right‑wing controversy, but he has continued uploading videos without offering any explanation, prompting calls for clarification.
On the 27th, the 'Neighborhood friend Kangnami' channel uploaded a video titled "Subway friend and Haneul's real(?) first meeting."
In that video, Kangnam ate samgyeopsal with his subway friend Choi Seungri and Lee Sang Hwa's nephew Haneul while talking. However, the comments on that video drew attention by asking for feedback on a previous video.
Earlier, on the 20th, Kangnam uploaded content with Japanese actor Sota Fukushi. Kangnam, who is Korean‑Japanese, holds Japanese nationality but has worked as an idol and broadcaster in Korea; after marrying Lee Sang Hwa, he passed the naturalization exam and acquired Korean nationality. He has invited famous Japanese stars to film YouTube content, and has promoted Korea‑Japan cultural exchange by carrying out projects such as "J‑pop remake," in which Korean artists cover famous Japanese songs.
In particular, Sota Fukushi recently appeared in the Netflix Korean drama "Does this love interpretation work?", and he showed interest in Korea by appearing on Kangnam's YouTube channel and showing off his Korean skills. But after the video was released, controversy arose as Fukushi's family history was reexamined. It became known that Fukushi appeared in a 2015 Fuji TV documentary marking the network's 70th anniversary, and that his grandfather was reported to have received training related to kamikaze special attack units during World War II.
Moreover, some expressed disappointment with Kangnam for posting promotional content featuring a Japanese actor with right‑wing controversy so soon after Korea's Aug. 15 Liberation Day. With negative public opinion already rising over the "J‑pop remake" project, the sharp reactions toward Kangnam intensified.
However, because there is no confirmation that Sota Fukushi praised kamikaze or glorified Japanese war crimes, some argued it is difficult to conclude Fukushi's historical view or political tendencies solely because his grandfather was a candidate for a special attack unit. It was reported that the footage of Fukushi crying after hearing testimony from a kamikaze special attack member was a malicious edit, and that he learned about his grandfather for the first time through the documentary.
Amid this controversy, the 'Neighborhood friend Kangnami' team deleted the video featuring Sota Fukushi without making any public statement. Both the production team and Kangnam remained silent, and when a new video was uploaded, some netizens left comments such as "There is no feedback at all on the previous video — what are you doing?", "Are you going with no response?", "Amazing indifference," "Investigate and properly explain if that's fabricated," and "If it's manipulation, just post the related posts or videos — deleting comments or not responding is a blunder." On the other hand, some responded that "That actor should explain it," saying it was not an issue Kangnam needed to address.
[Photo] Neighborhood friend Kangnami
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