YouTuber Park Wi faces continued backlash after deleting KTX accident CCTV video and apologizing

YouTuber Park Wi continues to face criticism after releasing CCTV footage of an accident that occurred while he was getting off a KTX train, despite subsequently removing the video and issuing an apology.

On August 21 KST, Park Wi uploaded a video titled “Why I’m Releasing the CCTV Footage” to his YouTube channel 'WERACLE'. The footage showed Park Wi falling while exiting a KTX train after the wheel of his wheelchair reportedly became caught on the foot of a public service worker positioned on the ramp.

Park Wi explained that he released the footage to raise awareness about safety for wheelchair users and the need to improve accessibility. He also stressed that the worker had not intentionally caused the accident.

However, the decision to publicly release the CCTV footage quickly drew criticism online. Some netizens argued that sharing the footage was excessive considering that the worker had apparently been trying to assist Park Wi and had apologized immediately after the accident.

Comments included, “Wasn’t this publicly calling out someone who made a mistake while trying to help?” and “This could create an environment where people become afraid to help because they might be attacked if something goes wrong.”

As the controversy intensified, Park Wi made the video private and posted an apology.

“I apologize for disappointing many people,” he wrote. “I failed to consider the position of the worker who did their best to assist me and sincerely apologized at the scene.”

He added, “I viewed a mistake that occurred while they were trying to help me better only from a negative perspective. The way I communicated the situation was inadequate, and I did not think carefully enough.”

Despite the apology, criticism has continued.

Some pointed to the significant influence of Park Wi’s channel, which has around 1 million subscribers, arguing that publicly releasing the footage could have placed considerable pressure on the worker involved.

Others questioned why Park Wi’s statement did not explicitly mention whether he had personally apologized to the worker. Comments such as “There’s no mention of apologizing directly to the person involved” and “Why apologize only to subscribers instead of the worker?” circulated online.

Questions were also raised about how the CCTV footage was obtained and whether there were any restrictions surrounding its public release, with some calling for further clarification regarding the process.

Another recurring criticism was that “the callout was made through a video, while the apology was only a written post,” with some arguing that a more direct response was necessary given the reach of the original content.

There were, however, also voices defending Park Wi. Some noted that the fall could have been particularly dangerous for a person with paralysis and argued that he had a legitimate reason to raise concerns about safety and accessibility, even if the way the footage was presented became controversial.

Park Wi is a YouTuber known for documenting his rehabilitation journey and producing content aimed at improving awareness surrounding disabilities. In 2024, he married former Secret member Song Ji Eun.