"Doctors Shouldn't Make Money?"… Hong Hye-gul Refutes 'Money Bragging Controversy' Over 7 Billion Won House and 2.5 Billion Won Paintings

A House Revealed on a Broadcast Sparks Criticism
"I Will Work Hard and Spend Honestly," Declared

Dr. Hong Hye-gul, a YouTuber with 1.76 million subscribers and a former medical journalist, addressed criticism that he and his wife were "showing off their wealth." On the 5th, Hong posted on his social media, responding to backlash after the MBN program 'GabojaGO' Season 2 aired on the 3rd, where he and his wife, Dr. Yeo Esther, revealed aspects of their daily life. He opened by saying, "After the broadcast revealed our annual sales (around 300 billion KRW), house price (around 7 billion KRW), and the value of the painting hanging in our living room (2.5 billion KRW), the couple has been criticized for bragging too much about money."

Dr. Hong Hye-gul, a YouTuber with 1.76 million subscribers and a former medical journalist, has responded to criticism that "the couple is showing off their wealth."
[Photo by Hong Hye-gul on Facebook]

Hong Hye-gul said, "We understand well that a program that creates a sense of discomfort in times like these is inappropriate," and added, "To explain a few things, first, I did not want to talk about sales, house price, or painting value, but since the producers and hosts asked, I had no choice but to tell the truth." Regarding the criticism that they could have simply declined to appear on the show, he said, "We do not do this because we enjoy being on TV. Please understand it as a desperate measure to promote my wife's company," and added, "Our competitors spend over 100 billion KRW on advertising, so we cannot just sit idly by."

Hong also said, "I do not know if people should feel upset just because we have been economically successful," and continued, "I apologize to doctors who struggle with essential medical care, but while it is natural for the third or fourth generation of chaebols to live well, why can't doctors who have expanded the horizons of health functional foods earn money? We will work hard to earn money and use it benevolently. It is not exactly a request for support, but please understand."

Finally, Hong reiterated, "I do not know if people should feel upset just because we have been economically successful," and asked, "I apologize to doctors who struggle with essential medical care, but why can't doctors who have expanded the horizons of health and functional foods with probiotics or glutathione film formulations earn money?" He added, "We will work hard to earn money and use it benevolently," and wrote, "This post is intended to ask for your understanding, so I kindly ask for your generosity."

Meanwhile, the couple, Hong Hye-gul and Yeo Esther, reside in Tower Palace in Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. During the broadcast, they introduced a painting hanging in their living room, stating, "Its price is about two-fifths of the house price (2.5 billion KRW)," which became a topic of interest.

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