[OSENWORLD] Popular Korean YouTuber Jung Seonho (Seonozzi), who runs a channel with 1.8 million subscribers, has publicly condemned fashion magazine W Korea for what he described as a “tone-deaf and misguided” approach to breast cancer awareness.
On October 19, Jung uploaded a video titled “My Mom Had Breast Cancer, and I Played Jay Park’s ‘MOMMAE’ for Her,” in which he shared his mother’s past experience as a breast cancer survivor while criticizing W Korea’s recent charity gala “Love Your W.”
In the video, Jung marked Breast Cancer Awareness Day by pinning a pink ribbon on his mother, who underwent chemotherapy when he was in middle school. He recalled her two-year battle with the illness, saying she stopped wearing seatbelts because of post-surgery pain. “I didn’t realize back then that for breast cancer patients, even a seatbelt can be painful,” he said.
Jung’s mother reflected on the hardships she faced: “Everything was difficult — losing my hair, even the fine ones on my arms. At the time, I was hurt that you didn’t treat me like a patient, but now I’m thankful. It helped me stay strong and not fall into depression.”
During the conversation, Jung brought up W Korea’s Love Your W event, where a performance of Jay Park’s sexually suggestive song “MOMMAE” sparked outrage. “How could anyone perform that song at a breast cancer awareness event?” he said. His mother reacted strongly: “That’s not awareness. That’s mockery. As a woman, I’m disgusted.”
Jung criticized the gala’s shallow tone, saying, “They commercialized breast cancer awareness for fashion and publicity. The pink ribbon was used as a marketing tool, not a message of empathy.” He also pointed out that celebrities were asked questions like ‘How many times did you look in the mirror today?’ instead of discussing the cause itself.
“W Korea is a fashion brand, I understand,” he said. “But if you host an awareness campaign, at least study the issue. For survivors, dressing or looking in the mirror can be painful experiences. Turning that into party talk—it’s unacceptable.”
Following Jung’s video, W Korea faced backlash as images circulated online showing celebrities drinking champagne and posing for photos, with little mention of breast cancer awareness. The magazine later issued a public apology, admitting that “the setup and tone of the event were inappropriate for its cause” and apologizing for “causing discomfort and distress to patients and their families.”
W Korea added, “We deeply regret not considering the perspectives of those affected by breast cancer. We will review every stage of our planning process to prevent similar incidents in the future.”
Jung concluded his video with a sharp message:
“This wasn’t a campaign — it was a party. If you want to act like you’re helping society, at least understand what you’re representing.”
/k_inside@osen.co.kr
Courtesy of YouTube
