Popular travel creator Wonji (Lee Won Ji), known for her popular YouTube channel Wonji’s Day, is facing mounting backlash after viewers raised concerns about the poor working conditions shown in her recent office tour video. Despite issuing multiple apologies and removing the video, the controversy has intensified, resulting in a significant loss of subscribers.
As of 10 PM on December 2, the channel’s subscriber count had fallen to 999,000, dropping below the symbolic 1-million mark. It marks a steep decline just 12 days after the issue first surfaced on November 20. According to previous tallies, the channel had already slipped from 1.02 million to 1 million by November 28, underscoring the continued erosion of viewer trust.
The controversy began when Wonji uploaded a video revealing her new office — a cramped, windowless, 6-pyeong (approximately 19.8㎡) space located two floors underground. The video showed four employees working in a confined office with no ventilation system or natural light. Viewers immediately criticized the setting, leaving comments such as, “It looks suffocating,” “This is like a chicken coop,” and “The staff’s working conditions are far too poor.”
In response to the surge of criticism, Wonji quickly set the video to private and issued an apology. She acknowledged, “As this is my first office, there were many shortcomings,” and pledged to move to a better workspace. She later added that the video may not have fully conveyed the building’s ventilation structure, leading to misunderstandings for both viewers and other tenants, prompting her decision to hide the video.
Her team also posted an official statement on November 20, writing, “We sincerely apologize for the discomfort caused by the office environment shown in today’s uploaded video, ‘Looking for a 6-pyeong Office.’”
Wonji further promised to improve working conditions, stating, “We will actively take your feedback to heart and work hard to create a workplace where our Horollo team members can enjoy working.”
Despite these efforts, the backlash has not subsided. Subscriber loss continues, and longtime followers have expressed disappointment, noting that Wonji has frequently emphasized the importance of proper ventilation in her travel content — a point many now view as contradictory.
Wonji rose to prominence as a travel creator on YouTube before gaining broader public recognition through ENA’s variety series 'World Dice Tour.' Earlier this year, she also made headlines after announcing her surprise marriage. However, as the controversy grows, it appears it may take time for her to rebuild trust and stabilize her audience.
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