JTBC 'Sageon Banjang' Conveys Feelings Through the Show
The YouTube channel 'Pisik University,' which has 3.14 million subscribers, has been embroiled in a controversy over regional disparagement. Amid this, the sentiments of a restaurant owner who sold meals to them even after business hours had ended were revealed.
Recently, the video titled 'Made in Gyeongsang-do - Gyeongbuk Yeongyang: Visiting Yeongyang, the Smallest City in Gyeongsang-do' uploaded on the YouTube channel 'Pisik University' became the center of controversy. The video features comedians Jeong Jae-hyung, Kim Min-su, and Lee Yong-ju traveling in Yeongyang, Gyeongbuk, repeatedly saying things like "It's boring," "It has no character," and "There's nothing to do" throughout the journey.
In particular, the problem arose from harsh criticism while exposing the names of small bakeries and meal restaurants. After eating a hamburger bun at a bakery, they commented, "The taste is interesting," "I took a bite and felt a story from the food," "It tastes like something made by a grandmother," "Young people want to eat hamburgers but substitute this," and "It feels like army stew. Since you can't eat it, you just eat it like this."
When visiting the meal restaurant, they said, "Honestly, the menu lacks character," "The menu is meaningless, so you have to eat whatever is given," and "If you eat only this every day, how delicious a hamburger would be; that hamburger earlier must have been heavenly."
The meal restaurant owner shared his feelings through JTBC's 'Incident Manager.' The owner said, "At the time, lunch service had ended, so I was not going to serve customers, but since they said they were famous YouTubers, I served them a meal." Hearing the news through his daughter-in-law, he said, "I feel so distressed thinking it was my fault for serving food after business hours that I am considering closing the store and going out for some fresh air." He also revealed that there had been no contact from 'Pisik University' since the controversy and expressed hope that "people would only think positively about Yeongyang-gun."
The County Governor Also Mentioned the Video... Pisik University Has Yet to Respond
O Do-chang, the governor of Yeongyang County, expressing his position on the controversy over regional disparagement by Sik University [Image source=Screenshot from the video "Lee Dong-jae's News Cabinet" on the Maeil Shinmun YouTube channel]
Earlier, Oh Do-chang, the governor of Yeongyang-gun, Gyeongbuk, also commented on the video. In an interview video released on the 17th by the Maeil Newspaper YouTube channel 'Lee Dong-jae's News Cabinet,' he said, "I woke up to find Yeongyang had become a star," but added, "There were many disappointing parts."
"Yeongyang is a place where, despite its shortcomings, you can enjoy a paradise in today's world where stars are hard to see and breathe natural air in the birch forest," he explained, adding, "It is the longest-living county with the highest number of centenarians nationwide." He said, "Though life is busy, if you come to Yeongyang, you can truly feel the happiness of taking a deep breath," and added, "Like the birch tree's flower language meaning 'waiting for you,' we are waiting for your visit. Please come often."
Pisik University has not issued any separate statement regarding this controversy. Last year, at the 59th Baeksang Arts Awards, they became the first YouTube content creators to win the TV category Entertainment Award.
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