Netizens are at it again, this time the target is Tablo’s brother, David Lee(Lee Sun-min).

[Phase 1: The posting]
You may remember MBC’s “Infinity Challenge” went to New York City. The members set out to spread love of Korean food to the people of New York, but they spent a little less time sharing food and more time goofing around. Frankly, David Lee was a little more than upset about how the episode played out.

On the day of the episode’s airing, November 21, 2009, David Lee posted the following message on his Cyworld mini-homepage in a photo album titled “Thoughts”:

I had my worries when I heard that Infinity Challenge members would go to New York.. While watching, I felt like dying from embarrassment.

People are being crazy on the Internet, saying how ‘Our Korean humor worked in New York too.

ARE YOU F–KING SERIOUS?

They were ignored like dogs on the streets by New Yorkers, for mumbling jibberish and not even being able to speak a word. They were treated like retards at the pizza place by being thrown a random slice to eat.

Also, street casting?? Internet radio?? For someone who call himself the ‘Nation’s MC’ to dance like a grasshopper inside a crappy warehouse with a green screen those 20-year-old white boys call a ’studio.’ Am I the only one who thinks this, or did those white boys make him into a complete fool? I wonder what those white boys were thinking. (Actually, nevermind. Even if they said it out loud, the Koreans wouldn’t have understood.) Perhaps they thought, ‘WHAT ARE THESE F–KING RETARDS DOING?’

I know you are being ‘real’ for entertainment, but keep the low-grade comedy in Korea. Please, okay? You make millions per year? Did you really have to go overseas, especially to the capital fo the world, New York City, just to be a bunch of jackasses? MBC sure knows how to put themselves on top.

To MBC, who produced of this piece of crap, and those crowd of reporters who publicized this shameful eent as if it were something to be proud of… Of course, this episode is perfect for Koreans who think this low-grade comedy is oh-so-funny.

Since when was it so humiliating to be a part of the Korean race?

Why don’t you get rid of the ‘food’ and just tell those New Yorkers with you gibberish that Dokdo is our land? You act like you can attack Japan any day when you are the ones who copy their mini cooper?”

This dude needs to take a chill pill.

[Phase 2: The Netizen Reaction]
Many netizens were, obviously, equally infuriated, but at David Lee, not at the broadcast. The distinction in how Koreans are viewed in America is usually a very touchy subject for Gyopos (Koreans living abroad), but not so much for Koreans who live in Korea.

Though the post is just ranting, David Lee is somewhat famous in Korea (Star English program, and being Tablo’s brother), so his ranting drew quite a bit of attention.

Korean netizens reacted coldly at first, “Why can’t Koreans speak Korean?” Even though Korea puts a lot of money into English education, there is an underlying distress that Koreans are losing culture by putting a large emphasis on learning a foreign language and culture. Next, the insults came, angered at his lack of Korean pride.

Soon, the media was all over the issue. Even though David Lee closed the album on his mini-homepage, screen captures of the posting were already spread in the Internet.

[Phase 3: David Lee's Answer]
The next day, instead of an apology, Tablo’s brother posted in his mini-homepage profile, a calmer explanation of his previous rant.

My writing on my annoyance watching Infinity Challenge New York episode, was it fun to read..?

Submit to those in power? A display of defeat? Because I absolutely cannot do these sort of things, all these calls to war are in vain, so if your planning on how to escalate matters, don’t waste your time.

For 16 years, while I lived in American society, I inherently experienced racism and prejudice. Yesterday, I was very uncomfortable watching the Americans’ attitude towards the Infinity Challenge MCs. In the press, it came out strongly, ‘Korea’s comedy is really funny!’ but it should’ve been something like ‘What are they doing?’ … something like that?

You saw the pizza guy throw a slice of pizza like he’s feeding a dog? I’m sorry I got offended, instead of breaking out into laughter, smiling.

If only by name, they are the best MCs. But in New York, they seem like they are just funny and awkward-looking Asians. In America, Asians get worse treatment than black or latino people, so why of all things was the concept the obvious, ‘Asian who can’t speak a word of English’…

If it was for the good cause of introducing Korean food, why not have one good English translator, for funnier and more interesting conversations? Wasn’t it possible to create the situation?

Because it was MBC, because it was Infinity Challenge, I am even more offended.

David Lee stuck by his words. A few netizens are in agreement with his views, but the louder majority are still angry at the rapper’s brother for being too outspoken, if not anti-Korean.

English-speaking, Kpop followers, what do you think of this situation?

The Infinity Challenge New York Special:
Part 1: