Professor Seomin Apologizes for 'Hongeo Junpyo Controversy', Engages in Comment War with Netizens: "Why Are You Acting Petty Here?"

Responding Individually to Critical Comments from Some Netizens

Professor Seomin, Dankook University. [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Recently, Professor Seomin from Dankook University College of Medicine, who sparked controversy for using the expression 'Hong-eo Junpyo' to disparage a specific region, is engaged in heated exchanges with netizens criticizing him.

On the 31st of last month, Professor Seomin conducted a live broadcast on his YouTube channel 'Seomin's Parasite TV' titled 'Professor Seomin serves Hong-eo and beer for Yoon Seok-yeol's health boost!?'. The thumbnail (preview image) of the video included the phrase 'Chewing Hong-eo Junpyo for Yoon Seok-yeol,' targeting Hong Jun-pyo, the People Power Party's presidential candidate.

In response, on the 3rd, Professor Seomin posted on his blog an article titled 'Sincerely Apologizing to Candidate Hong Jun-pyo.' In the post, he stated, "Yesterday, I was only focused on managing the situation and could not apologize to Candidate Hong, who is the victim of the incident," and added, "I apologize belatedly."

A video uploaded on the 31st of last month on the YouTube channel 'Seomin's Parasite TV'.
Photo by YouTube capture

The post received numerous critical comments from some netizens, and Professor Seomin replied to each, engaging in heated debates.

When one netizen left an aggressive comment saying, "A person who is a professor... please get a grip. Aren't you ashamed in front of your students? Are you a professor or a politician?" Professor Seomin retorted, "That's for the students to judge, why do you care?" Another netizen commented, "I told you from the start when you attacked Hong Jun-pyo. This was entirely predictable," to which Professor Seomin responded, "Oh, you predicted it? Why are you whining here then, fortune teller? Go open a fortune-telling shop."

Meanwhile, regarding this matter, Candidate Hong posted on his Facebook, saying, "It's truly embarrassing for South Korea that such a person has been posing as a university professor until now," and criticized, "While it is welcome that he switched from left to right, it is also fortunate for us that his true character has surfaced before it was too late."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.