Gaseyeon mocks Tzuyang by photoshopping late President Kim Dae-jung... "Tzudaejung"

[Image source = Screenshot from YouTube channel 'Garosero Research Institute']

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] The YouTube channel "Garosero Research Institute (Gaseyeon)," which faced backlash for posting provocative thumbnails using photos of the late comedian Park Ji-sun, has once again been embroiled in controversy over disrespecting the deceased. This time, the controversy arose over the use of a manipulated photo mocking the late former President Kim Dae-jung in relation to mukbang YouTuber Tzuyang's comeback announcement.

On the 20th, Gaseyeon uploaded a video titled "Mukbang Tzdoejung reverses retirement!" on their YouTube channel. The video was a short clip lasting 1 minute and 39 seconds, but the thumbnail sparked controversy as it featured a composite image of Tzuyang's face merged with former President Kim's face.

Gaseyeon combined a photo of Tzuyang eating food with former President Kim's face and mocked it by calling it "Tzdoejung." They also maliciously edited and inserted footage of former President Kim, sarcastically ridiculing both Kim, who reversed his retirement declaration, and Tzuyang.

They even inserted captions like "ㅋㅋㅋ" (Korean onomatopoeia for laughter) and sound effects of people laughing throughout the video, openly showing their intent to mock. Despite a flood of protests from netizens saying things like "This is too much," "It's disrespecting the deceased," and "I am unsubscribing, very disappointed," the thumbnail remains unchanged and still posted as is.

[Image source = Screenshot from YouTube channel 'Garosero Research Institute']

Meanwhile, this is not the first time Gaseyeon has been criticized for "provocative thumbnails." On the 2nd, Gaseyeon conducted a YouTube live broadcast titled "Park Ji-sun who can't do makeup," using a photo of the late Park Ji-sun as the thumbnail.

After a wave of protests from netizens, they added the phrase "(medical accident victim)." Nevertheless, Kim Yong-ho and Kim Se-ui instead pointed fingers at netizens, saying, "When we caught those who attacked me, they were people who left malicious comments on deceased celebrities," and "What have you done for Park Ji-sun?"

As the controversy grew, a petition demanding punishment for Gaseyeon was posted on the Blue House's national petition site. The petitioner stated, "The YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute (Gaseyeon) is increasingly crossing the line," and added, "This is not the first or second time they have mocked the deceased to increase views. It should not end with just shutting down the channel; they must be strongly punished."

Less than a month after facing fierce backlash from netizens, Gaseyeon has once again been caught up in a "disrespecting the deceased" controversy, drawing attention to how they will respond and handle the criticism moving forward.