South Korean comedian Lee Yong-jin is under fire after the production team of his YouTube series YongTarot edited a recent episode to remove explicit language and controversial comments about the country’s low birth rate, made in front of LE SSERAFIM’s Kim Chaewon, without issuing an apology or showing remorse. The move, executed on March 22, 2025, has only intensified public outrage, with netizens slamming the 39-year-old entertainer for his remarks and the subsequent handling of the situation. As of late Saturday evening, no official statement has been released by Lee or his team, leaving fans and critics questioning his accountability in the escalating scandal.
The controversy erupted following the March 19 airing of YongTarot, where Lee, known for his work on tvN’s Comedy Big League, conducted a tarot reading for Kim Chaewon, a 24-year-old member of the popular K-pop group LE SSERAFIM. During the session, Lee veered off-script, launching into a rant about South Korea’s declining birth rates. “I’m so f***ing pissed,” he reportedly said, referencing a news story about a school in Ganghwado, Incheon, enrolling only one student. He then turned to Kim, adding, “You know how there are some people who become more successful after marriage? That’s you. Your fortune is to become a faithful wife and mother.” The remarks, delivered with casual bluntness, sparked immediate backlash online after the episode aired.
By March 22, the original video had been altered, with the curse words and contentious statements scrubbed from the upload. However, the edit—reported by outlets like allkpop—did little to quell the storm. Instead, it fueled accusations of evasion, as viewers noted the absence of any acknowledgment or apology from Lee or the YongTarot team. Social media erupted with criticism, with one user posting, “Editing out the words doesn’t erase what he said. Where’s the accountability?” Another wrote, “He’s acting like it never happened—no remorse, nothing.”
The incident’s gravity stems from several factors. First, Lee’s use of explicit language in a lighthearted tarot-reading format, especially in front of a young K-pop idol, struck many as jarring and unprofessional. Kim Chaewon, born in 2000, represents a generation often shielded from such candid commentary in polished entertainment settings, amplifying the discomfort. Second, his remarks about marriage and motherhood touched a nerve in South Korea, where declining birth rates—down to a record low of 0.78 births per woman in 2022—are a sensitive national issue. Critics argue that Lee’s rant trivialized a complex societal challenge, reducing it to a personal jab at Kim, who is not married and whose career centers on music, not domestic roles.
Netizens were quick to voice their displeasure. “Why is he saying that to Kim Chaewon?” one X user demanded, while another quipped, “If you’re that pissed, why don’t you go give birth to some children yourself?” The backlash, detailed in reports from The Pinnacle Gazette, highlighted a broader sentiment: Lee’s comments were not just inappropriate but also out of touch, particularly when directed at a young woman whose professional life has no bearing on his grievances.
The decision to edit the video without a public apology has drawn particular scrutiny. In entertainment scandals, transparency often mitigates damage—stars typically issue statements expressing regret or clarifying intent. Lee’s silence, coupled with the quiet removal of the offending segment, suggests an attempt to bury the issue rather than address it. This approach contrasts sharply with past incidents involving South Korean celebrities, where swift apologies have often softened public reaction. For instance, when comedian Park Na-rae faced criticism for a 2021 skit, she promptly apologized, and the storm subsided. Lee’s reticence, by contrast, has left the controversy simmering.
Lee Yong-jin, born November 18, 1985, has built a career on sharp humor and relatable charm, from his sketch comedy roots to owning a sashimi restaurant in Sokcho. His YouTube ventures, including YongTarot, have expanded his reach, blending entertainment with personal anecdotes. Yet this latest episode may test his reputation. Fans who admired his candid style now grapple with a moment that crossed into discomfort, while detractors see it as evidence of arrogance. “A female K-pop idol’s job is not to sit there and listen to you rant your views about social problems,” one critic wrote, encapsulating the sentiment that Lee overstepped his role.
As of 9:57 PM PDT on March 22, no further updates have emerged from Lee’s camp. The edited video remains online, a scrubbed relic of the original broadcast, but screen recordings and fan accounts ensure the unedited remarks live on in public memory. Entertainment analysts suggest this could mark a turning point for Lee, whose next move—whether an apology or continued silence—will likely shape the scandal’s fallout. For now, the absence of remorse keeps the story alive, a cautionary tale of how editing alone cannot erase the echoes of ill-chosen words.
