GwakTube, Allegations of Exaggerated School Violence and Theft Accusations Spread
Agency States "Clear Falsehoods... Will Take Strict Action"
Famous YouTuber GwakTube (Gwak Junbin) recently became embroiled in controversy for defending Lee Naeun, who was identified as the main culprit in the bullying controversy within the idol group April. Amid this, a former classmate of GwakTube has come forward with revelations about his school days.
On the 19th, a post by a person claiming to be GwakTube’s middle school classmate, referred to as A, was published on an online community. A opened by saying, "I find it hard to agree with the claim that Gwak Junbin was bullied at school because of poverty and appearance." He added, "I have seen scenes where Gwak Junbin was attacked with a compass or eraser dust," but also said, "While the victim’s feelings are more important, honestly, I don’t think it was severe school violence."
He continued, "Throwing clumps of eraser dust was originally a common prank among kids," and "Junbin himself threw clumps a few times, so calling this school violence is not right. As for being poked with a compass, I remember Junbin got very angry when it happened once. I don’t know if it happened again after that, but I only saw it once."
A also raised suspicions that GwakTube had committed theft in the past. He said, "As far as I remember, around the latter half of second grade, a somewhat reckless friend secretly carried a (Nintendo) DS, and I recall it was stolen, which escalated and was exposed." He added, "Because of this, most of the previous incidents of money being stolen were blamed on Gwak Junbin, and he was heavily criticized. I don’t want to blame Gwak Junbin for this. What I want to point out is Gwak Junbin’s lies, and honestly, I was very disappointed in him as a person regarding that."
He went on, "I was very surprised when Junbin talked on broadcast as if he had suffered severe school violence," and "But now he is an adult and has great responsibility for his past, so I think it is inappropriate to portray it that way." He also said, "Even after stealing the item, there were friends, including me, who hung out with him, and he was not bullied or physically abused by delinquents, so I don’t understand why Junbin thinks that way. He also mentioned once at an awards ceremony that he considered revealing the names of students who bullied him, which I found quite disgusting."
He added, "I don’t understand why he portrays himself as a victim of harsh school violence on broadcasts and elsewhere. A youthful mistake might have triggered his poverty complex and caused him great trauma. It is true that after that incident, many teased him as a beggar. But I hope he stops exaggerating and cutting out the context to make his claims," while revealing part of GwakTube’s phone number saved on his phone.
Agency Statement: "Clear Falsehoods... Will Take Strict Action Without Leniency Against Malicious Rumor Creation and Distribution"
As A’s post spread, on the 19th, GwakTube’s agency SM C&C stated, "The claim in the expos? that he stole a DS in the second year of middle school is false," adding, "The DS mentioned is presumed to be a Nintendo DS. According to middle school classmates, it was such a rare item that 'no one around even knew what a DS was.' No one remembers GwakTube stealing a game console. GwakTube himself has denied ever doing such a thing." The agency continued, "We will not stand by and will take active measures," warning, "We will take strict action without leniency against those who create and spread false information and malicious rumors."
The agency also said, "The writer claims to be a classmate from the first to second year of middle school, but GwakTube’s withdrawal due to school violence happened in high school. Someone from a different high school cannot comment on the school violence GwakTube experienced. Criticism and teasing about his family situation existed from middle school and continued. The influence of peer groups during school years is strong, so it was difficult to honestly express painful feelings despite being teased, and the hierarchical structure created under the guise of pranks made school life even more intimidating."
They added, "What might be a mere prank to some is not something that others can decide by saying, 'Maybe some teased him harshly, but it wasn’t that bad.' The writer’s opinion that throwing clumps of eraser dust and poking friends with a compass are just friend play culture and not violence can also be a form of secondary harm in the same context." The agency concluded, "We are receiving much criticism for the uploaded videos. It was a part that definitely required an apology, and the person involved is deeply reflecting. However, we earnestly ask to refrain from personal attacks beyond advice, malicious attacks with unclear facts, and indiscriminate guilt by association directed at acquaintances."
Recently, GwakTube has been stirring controversy by posting a travelogue to Italy with Lee Naeun, formerly of the group April, on his YouTube channel. Netizens expressed anger, saying, "He claimed to be a victim of school violence but defends Lee Naeun, who was identified as the main culprit in the group’s bullying controversy." In response to the backlash, GwakTube took down the video and apologized twice. He bowed his head, saying, "I failed to carefully consider parts that could cause further harm to victims due to arrogant and wrong judgment," and "It is my fault without excuse."
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