YouTuber Choi Wook apologizes for 'tank' remark about Ilbe — but not to 'far right'

Choi Wook, host of the pro-government YouTube channel "Maeblshow," has apologized for remarks in which he said the online community Ilbe — short for "Ilgan Best," a site known for far-right content and hate speech — should be "bulldozed with a tank." He made clear, however, that the apology was not directed at the far right. The comments drew calls from Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok and People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won for President Lee Jae Myung to state his position on the matter.

Speaking on "Maeblshow" on Monday, Choi said he was sorry for causing discomfort. "There were many people who were uncomfortable with my remarks about using a tank online against far-right figures who idolize Chun Doo-hwan's methods — treating them the way they themselves admire," he said. "I sincerely apologize."

He added, however, that the apology was "absolutely not" directed at those who glorify Chun Doo-hwan's methods. "I will approach broadcasts more carefully going forward," he said.

The controversy stems from a broadcast on Friday, during which Choi was discussing what he described as a conservative shift among men in their 20s and 30s. He accused the group of engaging in hate speech and said, "What they idolize is Chun Doo-hwan. When it comes to crimes on platforms like Ilbe, we need to bulldoze them with a tank online."

He also called for their hate speech to be "eradicated" and "clearly criminalized," arguing that "because we in the mainstream have just let it go, Ilbe has become entertainment, become a culture, and come into the open."

The remarks drew immediate criticism, with many accusing Choi of hypocrisy and endorsing violence.

Critics noted that pro-government commentators had long condemned those who invoked "tanks" to mock the May 18 Gwangju pro-democracy uprising — yet Choi himself had now used the same imagery.

The video of the broadcast drew a flood of protest comments, including: "You've been shouting about tanks and have finally become the tank itself," and "Is the tank you're talking about a good tank?"

Meanwhile, Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform Party, said President Lee Jae Myung "should not let this pass if he has even a minimum of consistency and conscience."

President Lee had previously expressed outrage when Starbucks Korea ran a "tank tumbler" promotion on the anniversary of the May 18 pro-democracy movement, calling it "the inhumane, rock-bottom conduct of a low-grade merchant."

Na Kyung-won of the People Power Party said that "by the administration's own standards, this warrants immediate detention, investigation and the maximum sentence allowed by law," and urged President Lee to "state his position on what action he will take."

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