YouTuber Park Wi, who sparked controversy by releasing a video of a fall he experienced while getting off a KTX train, will step down as a Seoul City public relations ambassador.
According to Seoul City on the 27th, Park Wi recently conveyed his intention to resign as a public relations ambassador. The city said it will accept his decision and proceed with the related procedures. Park Wi was appointed as a Seoul City public relations ambassador on June 17 last year. His original two-year term was set to run until June next year.
On the 21st, Park Wi posted closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage on his YouTube channel "Wiracle" showing him falling while getting off a KTX train, drawing criticism.
The video shows Park Wi falling during the disembarkation process after a wheelchair wheel caught the foot of a social service agent. Afterward, online criticism emerged that releasing the video appeared to be an attempt to publicize the worker's mistake and make the person a target of blame.
As the controversy grew, Park Wi deleted the video and apologized. He said he "failed to consider the position of the worker who did their best to help me and offered a polite apology."
But criticism continued even after the apology. Petitions reportedly were filed with Seoul City requesting that Park Wi be dismissed from the ambassador post. In the end, Park Wi chose to relinquish the role on his own with about 10 months left in his term.