Kiwoom Heroes' player Lee Joo-hyung faced criticism after commenting on Park Eun-bin's Instagram live asking her to speak like her character from 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo', prompting the club to state that he is reflecting on his actions.
Lee Joo-hyung, a player for the Kiwoom Heroes in professional baseball, has come under fire for a comment he made during an Instagram live broadcast by actress Park Eun-bin. During the broadcast on April 4, Lee left a comment saying, 'Please speak like Woo Young-woo', referencing the character portrayed by Park in the popular drama 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo'. This request is viewed by many as insensitive, as the character, a lawyer with autism spectrum disorder, has become a significant cultural figure in raising awareness about disability and discrimination issues. Park Eun-bin did not respond to the comment during the live session.
Following the backlash from netizens, who expressed their outrage labeling the request as rude and hurtful to individuals affected by autism and their families, the Kiwoom Heroes organization issued a statement. They emphasized that Lee did not intend any malice with his comment and confirmed that he is aware of his mistake and is reflecting on it. Previously, Park Eun-bin herself stated in interviews that she never imitated the speech patterns of individuals with autism while portraying Woo Young-woo, as she believed it to be ethically irresponsible for an actor to do so.
