In the midst of controversy over regional insults, the YouTube channel ‘Fxxx University’ recently issued a belated apology, but negative public sentiment continues to persist, with calls for an apology to Jang Won-young as well. The channel’s creators, Lee Yong-joo, Jung Jae-hyung, and Kim Min-soo, expressed regret for the remarks made at a bakery and a Korean restaurant in a video posted on May 11th during their visit to Yeongyang, Gyeongsang-do. They acknowledged that their comments were inappropriate and apologized to those who were offended by them. The trio also visited the establishments in person to apologize directly and stated their commitment to addressing any potential harm that may have resulted as a consequence of their actions. The video that sparked the controversy has been removed and they have pledged to reassess the social responsibility of comedians in light of this incident.
Despite the apology from ‘Fxxx University,’ public opinion remains cool, as suspicions have been raised about intentional sexual harassment in the thumbnail depicting Jang Won-young on the show. When Jang Won-young appeared on the ‘Fxxx Show’ on May 5th, her thumbnail was altered to cover the logo with her photo, making it appear as if it read ‘Fxxx She.’ While some argue that this interpretation is excessive, there are demands for clarification as to why only Jang Won-young’s thumbnail was manipulated in that manner. However, ‘Fxxx University’ has not addressed these concerns, leading to continued skepticism regarding the sincerity of their apology.