Lee Su-ji civil servant parody controversy

In July 2026, South Korean comedian Lee Su‑ji posted a YouTube parody titled “Civil servant Kim Ji‑young’s iron rice bowl,” which satirised the demanding workload and low pay of Korean civil servants. A scene featuring a citizen shouting “re‑election! re‑election!” was interpreted as mocking the 2022 local‑election ballot‑shortage protests, prompting over a million views and a wave of criticism for political insensitivity.

The production team of the “Hot Issue” channel responded by editing out the contentious segment and issuing a public apology, stating the video was not intended to convey a political stance and pledging more responsible content creation.

A week later, Lee Su‑ji herself posted a handwritten apology, acknowledging that the sketch had caused discomfort and promising to be more careful in future performances. The video was removed, and the channel reiterated its neutral intent. Despite the controversy, Lee received the Popular Star Award at the 5th Blue Dragon Series Awards, marking her second consecutive win, and reiterated her commitment to delivering humor without offense.