Actor Lee Joon Reveals He Felt Suicidal After 'Workman' Remarks Sparked Backlash

Singer and actor Lee Joon has opened up about the severe emotional distress he experienced after his comments about the perceived lack of financial awareness among celebrities, made on the YouTube show 'Workman,' led to widespread criticism.

In an episode of 'Workman' released on the 14th, featuring DinDin, both Lee Joon and DinDin revisited the controversy surrounding Lee Joon's remarks. Lee Joon, reflecting on his past experiences, stated, "I have a lot ofアルバイト experience and have done many difficult jobs. It's unfair because I know the salary of the branch manager at my gym, and I'm the one giving it to them." He added, "When I'm filming, I sometimes say things without realizing what I'm saying, just throwing them out there."

DinDin explained the aftermath of the episode's release. "It was funny because we were filming '2 Days & 1 Night' the day it was released," he recalled. "The reaction was unexpectedly okay, and I thought, 'This could hit 1 million views in record time.' But I saw that while the reaction was good for me, some people were criticizing Lee Joon." He continued, "So I asked, 'Hyung, are you okay?' and he said, 'As long as the broadcast is fun, that's all that matters.' I thought, 'Wow, this guy is a true celebrity. That's cool.' Then, the next day, I was eating dinner at home when around 8 PM, I suddenly got a text saying, 'I want to die.'"

DinDin shared that Lee Joon was deeply struggling with the negative comments and criticism, revealing, "I felt so bad. We talked for an hour that day. I told him, 'It's okay. It wasn't that you did something wrong, it was a mistake.'" Lee Joon added, "The fact you told me was, 'Did you commit a crime? This isn't a crime, so why are you struggling over it?' My conclusion after that is that I won't be bothered by any comment."

Previously, in August, Lee Joon had worked alongside DinDin as a part-time employee at a budget franchise coffee brand for 'Workman.' During his shift, Lee Joon asked an employee, "Aren't you earning a lot right now? Don't you make like 10 million won a month?" This comment led to a backlash, prompting DinDin to criticize, "This is the problem with celebrities. They have no concept of the value of money. They drive supercars and use Jennie's bed, so their minds are messed up."

Netizens in Korea expressed concern and support for Lee Joon, with comments like "How difficult it must have been for actor Lee Joon...", "DinDin's call must have been a great comfort back then", and "It's sad to see him struggling due to malicious comments."