[Sports Chosun Online Reporter Jeong An-ji] Former Secret member Song Ji-eun and YouTuber Park Wi had their wedding on the 9th, and the speech made by Park Wi’s younger brother has sparked debate after the event.
Some criticized the speech for not considering Song Ji-eun and her family’s feelings due to personal anecdotes shared by Park Wi’s brother, while others feel that the criticism toward the brother is excessive and that outsiders are making Song Ji-eun and Park Wi uncomfortable.
The wedding scenes were uploaded to Park Wi’s YouTube channel ‘WERACLE’ on the 12th, showing the couple getting married amidst the blessings of family, friends, and acquaintances. During this event, the brother’s speech became a point of contention.
The brother recounted, “Ten years ago, my brother was diagnosed with quadriplegia after a sudden accident. Our family was really struggling,” then adding, “When my brother asked me, ‘What does disability mean to you?’ I replied, ‘A strong bond that ties our family together.’ My brother then tied our sister-in-law with that strong bond. Sister-in-law, thank you for becoming part of our family.”
However, further anecdotes were brought up that caused an issue. The brother shared a story about a time when Song Ji-eun and Park Wi were at the gym, highlighting an embarrassing moment without much sensitivity. He joked about Park Wi asking about a smell and Song Ji-eun’s reassuring and practical response, emphasizing her reliability and expressing that he felt he could finally let his brother go, symbolically entrusting him to Song Ji-eun.
Online, reactions were divided. Some found the anecdotes inappropriate and disrespectful, likening Song Ji-eun to a caregiver and perceiving a sense of relief from the brother that seemed inappropriate. Conversely, others labeled the outrage as an overreach that interrupted the newlyweds’ happiness.
Due to the ongoing controversy, Park Wi decided to remove the relevant portion of the speech from public view.
Song Ji-eun debuted in 2009 with the group Secret and is currently pursuing an acting career. Park Wi has been actively running the YouTube channel ‘WERACLE’ since being paralyzed from a fall in 2014. He was awarded the Seoul City Welfare Award in the Disability Rights category in 2022.